|Pathology & Etiology: |
| |
|Rheumatic fever is an acute inflammatory disease of the heart potentially involving all layers of the heart. Resulting from scaring and deformity of the heart |
|valves. (Lewis, 2011) |
|Rheumatic fever may develop after an infection with Streptococcus bacteria (such as strep throat or scarlet fever). The disease can affect the heart, joints, skin,|
|and brain. (National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Institute Health, 2012) |
|Rheumatic fever is common worldwide and is responsible for many cases of damaged heart valves. It is not common in the United States, and usually occurs in |
|isolated outbreaks. The latest outbreak was in the 1980s. (National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Institute Health, 2012) |
|Rheumatic fever mainly affects children ages 6 -15, and occurs approximately 20 days after strep throat or scarlet fever. (National Center for Biotechnology |
|Information, National Institute Health, 2012) |
|Case Study: |
|A 25 year old rock-n-roll singer complains of a sore throat with swollen lymph nodes and fever. She has also experienced nausea and vomiting.
References: Lewis, S. L. (2011). Medical Surgical Nursing. St. Louis: Elsevier. National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Institute Health. (2012). Retrieved from http://ncbi.nlm.nhi.gov: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004388/