What are the chances that rheumatic fever and strep throat can cause heart valve!


Question: What are the chances that rheumatic fever and strep throat can cause heart valve damage?
The person affected is my sister 38 year old woman.

Answers:

Moderate. First of all, strep throat is caused , obviously , by strep (Streptococcus) of which there are many strains. Now endocarditits, is an infection of the heart that is also commonly caused by strep. Strep is a bacteria, and it is very tenacious, and survives in various environments. Alot of the time, the strep is an anaerobic form, meaning it doesnt require oxygen to survive (these are the bad ones) Now if you were to have a strep infection in your throat, its unlikely but possible, for the bacteria to get into your blood stream (bacteremia) and then it has a free ride to wherever it wants to go. Then form there, its fairly easy to land in the heart (since thats where its going anyway) and infect the valves and inner lining of the heart (bacterial endocarditis or BE).
The second part of this equation, is the fact ther Rheumatic fever has a link to valve damage already!
Before antibiotic medicines became widely used, rheumatic fever was the single biggest cause of valve disease. Rheumatic fever is a condition that is a complication of untreated strep throat. Strep throat is caused by a group A streptococcal infection.
Rheumatic fever can damage body tissues by causing them to swell, but its greatest danger lies in the damage it can do to your heart. More than half of the time, rheumatic fever leads to scarring of the heart's valves. This scarring can narrow the valve and make it harder for the valve to open properly or to close completely. In turn, your heart has to work harder to pump blood to the rest of your body. This valve damage can lead to a condition called rheumatic heart disease, which, in time, can lead to congestive heart failure.Rheumatic fever is not an infection itself, but rather the result of an untreated strep infection. When your body senses the strep infection, it sends antibodies to fight it. Sometimes, these antibodies attack the tissues of your joints or heart instead. If the antibodies attack your heart, they can cause your heart valves to swell, which can lead to scarring of the valve "doors." (The doors are called leaflets.) The scarred leaflets make it harder for the valve to either open or close properly, or both.

Work closely with your provider, and stay on top of this heart issue, it is very vital that you do. email me with any other questions and Good Luck to you both!

HCP-PA/ ER / trauma TC4




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