Diagnosis of Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Carditis

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and its sequelae rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remain significant causes of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this narrative review is to present secondary interventions to improve early and accurate diagnosis of ARF and RHD. Acute rheumatic fever is an autoimmune response to group A Streptococcal infection.

The false path of RHD development allows for a variety of disease control strategies. It is important to diagnose acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease as early as possible so that secondary prevention can be initiated and the progression of the disease can be slowed.

When a diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is made, intramuscular injections of benzathine benzylpenicillin G are recommended at least once every 28 days to prevent relapses of ARF and progression of rheumatic heart disease (RHD). In most cases, patients require secondary prevention for 10 years or more.