What Is Rheumatic Heart Disease?
When a severe case of rheumatic fever causes permanent scarring of the heart, it is called rheumatic heart disease. The heart valves are the most common area affected. It can manifest as sudden acute episodes of illness or as a variety of chronic heart disorders.
Damage can begin shortly after infection and continues to develop slowly over time. You may not notice any issues for several years. In fact, most rheumatic heart disease symptoms will begin to appear 10 to 20 years after the infection. Despite the lapse in time between the disease and the cause, the heart damage will always be traced back to an incidence of rheumatic fever. Keep reading to learn the answers to 10 common questions about rheumatic heart disease.
