Symptoms of rheumatic heart disease
A) Rheumatic fever:
At first, you should know the symptoms of rheumatic fever because it is the principal cause of rheumatic heart disease. You may any of the following:
1- Carditis
means the inflammation of the layers of the heart wall. Pericarditis causes pericardial effusion and stitching pain, while myocarditis causes tachycardia and heart failure. Endocarditis causes stenosis or regurge of the valves.
2-Arthritis (joint inflammation)
It affects multiple large joints. You may have hotness, redness, swelling, and tenderness at the affected joints.
3-Subcutaneous nodule
It is a painless and firm nodule, which presents over bony prominences.
4-Chorea
means irregular and involuntary movements that start to appear after streptococcal infection.
5-Erythema marginatum
A skin rash affects the trunk and limbs.
