What Is Strep Throat?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
8. Rheumatic Fever
If left untreated, and/or if the patient is particularly vulnerable, strep throat can develop into rheumatic fever. This is potentially somewhat more serious with symptoms that are more severe than scarlet fever. Patients will often develop scarlet fever before then developing rheumatic fever.
Rheumatic fever can be very painful for the patient. What’s worse is that it can lead to permanent and potentially dangerous damage, particularly to the patients heart. It can be treated, but at this stage it should be treated as an emergency and hospitalization is likely to be needed. Getting it treated early could literally save a life.
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