Guide To Treating Rheumatic Heart Disease

In the United States, rheumatic heart disease is uncommon. It is diagnosed in about 0.04 to 0.06 per one thousand children. This heart condition is a complication of rheumatic fever, which typically results from strep throat, a condition caused by the streptococcus A bacteria. The heart issues associated with this disease generally present in the form of heart valve scarring or dysfunction. This forces the patient’s heart to have to work much harder to pump blood throughout the body. Eventually, this issue can lead to congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Treatment of rheumatic heart disease focuses on preventing the recurrence of rheumatic fever and correcting any heart issues the patient is experiencing.

Antibiotics For Infection

Antibiotics for infection are used whether the patient has active rheumatic fever or not. When a fever is not present, these medicines are used in a prophylactic capacity to prevent infection recurrence. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics for several years to reduce the risk of infection recurrence. This is important because if rheumatic fever comes back, it could result in further damage to the heart. Penicillin is the most commonly recommended antibiotic for this condition. If the patient is allergic to penicillin, they might receive a narrow-spectrum cephalosporin drug, azithromycin, clindamycin, or clarithromycin. All of these antibiotics work to fight against the streptococcus bacteria responsible for this infection.

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Anti-Inflammatory Medication

Anti-inflammatory medication is commonly prescribed to treat rheumatic heart disease, as heart issues often respond fast to these medications. The medication of choice is acetylsalicylic acid, though if heart failure is noted or if the carditis gets worse, doctors might add the corticosteroid prednisone to the patient’s regimen. The acetylsalicylic acid therapy should be started as soon as rheumatic heart disease manifests. It works to alleviate inflammation by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. If prednisone is added, doctors usually prescribe it for approximately two to fours weeks along with acetylsalicylic acid. During the last week, this steroid will be tapered if the carditis is improving.

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