Rheumatic Heart Disease Definition by Healthwise:
Rheumatic heart disease is inflammation and damage to the heart muscle and heart valves that develops as a result of rheumatic fever. A strep throat infection that is not properly treated can trigger rheumatic fever.
Not all people who have rheumatic fever develop rheumatic heart disease. However, any heart damage that occurs is usually permanent.
| Author: | Jeannette Curtis |
| Medical Review: | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated: May 25, 2007 | |
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