What causes rheumatic fever?
Research suggests that rheumatic fever is caused by the body’s immune system acting inappropriately as a complication of strep throat. The body’s immune cells are unable to distinguish between Group A streptococcus bacteria’s antigens and
antigens present on the body’s own cells, resulting in the immune cells attacking the body. However, some people develop rheumatic fever that never had an obvious throat infection and test negative after a throat culture.
Rheumatic fever is an immune response to an infection with group A streptococcus. The same bacteria causes strep throat and scarlet fever. While streptococcal skin infections are fairly common, they have not been linked to rheumatic fever.
Rheumatic fever is most prevalent in school-age children who are 5 to 15 years old. It is seen most often in the cold winter months when strep throat is also most common. Rheumatic fever may also occur in adults. It is seen with equal frequency in men and women. However, women with rheumatic fever are more likely to develop Sydenham chorea and mitral valve prolapse. |
