Acute Rheumatic Fever
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that usually follows infection of upper respiratory tract with group A beta hemolytic streptococci. It is characterised by lesions in the heart, blood vessels, joints and other connective tissues. The body becomes sensitized to the organism after repeated attacks (and develops an allergic or automimune response to it).
Etiology
The exact cause is usually not known. It is considered to be a hypersensitivity reaction to beta-hemolytic streptococci (Group A). The Predisposing factors are: Nursing Care of children with Cardiovascular and
i) Age: The incidence peaks between 5 and 15 years of age and is rare below 3 years.
ii) Socio-economic status : Common among poor socio-economic; over crowded families with poor dietary background having substandard health practices and low education level.
iii) Climate: Temperature, subtropical and tropical areas,
iv) Season: High incidence in winter months.
v) Genetic predisposition: The disease tends to run in families.
vi) Previous attack: An attack of upper respiratory infection carries 5 per cent risk of rheumcltic fever. Previous history of rheumatic fever carries 5 per cent risk of recurrence.
vii) Sex: Equal in both sexes.