Health encyclopaedia

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Complications of Rheumatic fever

The most common and most serious effect on the heart is a fibrous thickening and scarring of the valves, making them narrower (stenosis) or causing them to leak (incompetence). This may seriously interfere with the heart’s action.

Damage to the heart muscle can also be serious. The pumping power of the heart may be reduced over weeks or months, until it is not powerful enough to make the blood circulate around the body properly. In the most serious cases this can cause heart failure. Heart failure, however, is most often a consequence of valve damage.

The nervous system may also be involved, causing Sydenham’s chorea (St Vitus’ dance).

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