Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) is a group of heart disorders caused by rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that primarily affects the heart, joints, skin, and brain. If not treated on time, it may lead to serious health problems, such as heart failure. But are you familiar with its causes and the risk factors? We spoke to our expert Dr Vinay Nyapathi, MBBS, MD (Radiodiagnosis), Vascular Surgery, Apollo Spectra Hospital, Bangalore, who shared insights on the same.
What Is Rheumatic Heart Disease?
RHD is a chronic condition caused by damage to the heart valves following an episode of acute rheumatic fever, which itself is a complication of untreated or inadequately treated streptococcal throat infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rheumatic fever is an immune response and not contagious. However, if someone with rheumatic fever still has a group A strep infection, they can transmit the bacteria to others.
“The process begins with a strep throat infection caused by Group A Streptococcus Bacteria. In its attempt to fight the streptococcal bacteria, the immune system may attack the body's tissues. This autoimmune response results in inflammation and scarring of the heart valves, leading to the chronic and progressive nature of RHD”, said Dr Nyapathi.
If not treated promptly and properly with antibiotics, the infection can lead to rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that affects the heart, joints, skin, and brain. Rheumatic heart disease symptoms vary depending on the severity of valve damage. The most common symptoms of rheumatic fever are fever, swollen and very painful joints, lumps under the skin, shortness of breath and chest discomfort.
Also Read: Rheumatic Fever: Expert Explains Its Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, And Treatment
Risk Factors Of Rheumatic Heart Disease
Here are the risk factors of RHD, as listed by Dr Nyapathi:
- Frequent or untreated strep throat infections are the primary risk factor for rheumatic fever, which can subsequently lead to RHD.
- RHD is more prevalent in low- and middle-income countries due to limited access to healthcare, and a lack of awareness about the importance of treating strep throat infections.
- Rheumatic fever primarily affects children between the ages of 5-15. The signs of heart damage might appear years after the infection and fever have passed.
- A family history of rheumatic fever or RHD can increase an individual's risk. Genetic predisposition plays a role in the susceptibility to autoimmune reactions following streptococcal infections.
- Living in environments where streptococcal infections are common, such as crowded or unsanitary conditions, increases the risk of repeated strep throat infections and rheumatic fever and RHD.
“People may not realise they have rheumatic heart disease until they experience cardiac difficulties later in life. However, rheumatic heart disease can lead to serious complications, such as heart failure, stroke, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, irregular heart rhythms, endocarditis, or infection of the lining around the heart”, added Dr Nyapathi.
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Prevention, Treatment and Awareness
“Rheumatic heart disease can be prevented by early detection and regular intake of antibiotics to prevent rheumatic fever from occurring and can often treat strep infections. Treatment is mostly determined by the extent of damage to the heart valves. In severe circumstances, surgery may be required to replace or repair a significantly damaged valve. Anti-inflammatory medications can be used to decrease inflammation and minimise the risk of heart attack”, highlighted Dr Nyapathi.
Rheumatic heart disease can be avoided, but if left untreated, it poses significant health risks. Raising awareness about the symptoms of strep throat and the importance of seeking medical treatment can reduce the incidence of untreated infections.
Bottomline
Dr Nyapathi concluded, “In areas where RHD is common, regular check-ups for children can help in the early detection and management of strep throat infections and rheumatic fever. Understanding its causes and risk factors is essential in devising effective prevention strategies, ultimately promoting better health outcomes for affected individuals and communities.”
[Disclaimer: This article contains information provided by an expert and is for informational purposes only. Hence, we advise you to consult your expert if you are dealing with any health issues to get the necessary treatment.]