• Directory
  • Search
  • All results
  • Journals
  • Definitions
Images:
  • Wikimedia
  • Wikimedia
  • Wikimedia
  • Wikimedia
  • Wikimedia
  • Wikimedia
  • Merck
  • Merck
Videos:
View video
7:51
Strep Throat & Acute Rheumatic Fever
iMedicalSchool
Related terms:
arthritis
infectious arthritis
psoriatic arthritis
rheumatoid arthritis
erysipelas
fibromyalgia
gout
impetigo
osteoarthritis
Disease or Syndrome
rheumatic fever Audio
rheu·mat·ic fe·ver
Subclass of:
Streptococcal Infections; Rheumatism; Arthritis
Etymology:
Greek rheuma = mucous discharge
Andrews points out that the term "theum" was taken over into Latin, then into French, and finally borrowed into English prior to 1500. In French, theum means the common cold.
Definitions related to rheumatic fever:
  • A febrile disease occurring as a delayed sequela of infections with STREPTOCOCCUS PYOGENES. It is characterized by multiple focal inflammatory lesions of the connective tissue structures, such as the heart, blood vessels, and joints (POLYARTHRITIS) and brain, and by the presence of ASCHOFF BODIES in the myocardium and skin.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
  • An inflammatory disorder that follows infection with group A streptococcus. It affects the heart, joints, and subcutaneous tissues. It manifests with pericarditis, heart murmur, congestive heart failure, polyarthritis, subcutaneous nodules, and erythema marginatum. It is characterized by the formation of granulomatous lesions called Aschoff bodies usually in the heart tissue.
    NCI Thesaurus
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Febrile disease occurring as a delayed sequela of infections with group A hemolytic streptococci and characterized by multiple focal inflammatory lesions of the connective tissue structures, especially of the heart, blood vessels, and joints (polyarthritis), and by the presence of Aschoff bodies in the myocardium and skin.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • Rheumatic fever (RF) is a multisystem inflammatory disease occurring as a post-infectious, nonsuppurative sequela of untreated streptococcus pyogenes (Group A streptococcus [GAS]) pharyngitis, and mainly occurs in individuals aged 5 to 15 years. The most common presenting signs are fever, migratory polyarthritis and carditis.
    OrphaNet
    INSERM, 2021
  • Rheumatic fever is a nonsuppurative, acute inflammatory complication of group A streptococcal pharyngeal infection, causing combinations of arthritis, carditis, subcutaneous nodules, erythema marginatum, and chorea. Diagnosis is based on applying the modified Jones criteria to information gleaned from history, examination, and laboratory...
    Merck Manuals
    Merck & Co., Inc., 2020
  • Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that can develop when strep throat or scarlet fever isn't properly treated. Strep throat and scarlet fever are caused by an infection with streptococcus (strep-toe-KOK-us) bacteria.
    Mayo Clinic
    Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
  • Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory condition that may develop after infection with group A Streptococcus bacteria, such as strep throat or scarlet fever. It is primarily diagnosed in children between the ages of 6 and 16 and can affect the heart, joints, nervous system and/or skin. Early signs and symptoms include sore throat; swollen...
    NIH Genetic and Rare Diseases
    National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
  • Acute rheumatic fever is an autoimmune disease following infection with group A streptococci. It affects multiple systems including the joints, the brain, the skin, and the heart. Only the effects on the heart can lead to permanent illness; chronic changes to the valves of the heart are referred to as rheumatic heart disease. Acute...
    Epocrates
    Athenahealth, Inc., 2019
  • Rheumatic fever, inflammatory disease of the heart, joints, central nervous system, and subcutaneous tissues that develops after a throat infection with group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus bacteria, including untreated scarlet fever or strep throat. Prevention is possible with penicillin, but...
    Encyclopedia Britannica
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
Return to OpenMD Medical Dictionary > R
Try this search on: Farlex, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary, or Wordnik

This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.

  • About
  • Feedback
  • Guides
  • Terms
© 2025 OpenMD
The content on this site is NOT a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your doctor or health care provider.