What is the difference between rheumatism, rheumatic fever, and rheumatic heart disease?

The term rheumatism is not only used to refer to inflammation that attacks joints. There are also health problems with very similar terms, namely rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.

Even though they are similar, the three of them have far different symptoms and causes. That is why, the handling is different from one another. For that, know the difference between the three.

Different rheumatism, rheumatic fever, and rheumatic heart disease

Here are the differences between the three diseases:

1. Rheumatism (rheumatoid arthritis)

Rheumatism is an inflammatory disease that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in joints. The joints of the fingers and toes are the areas most at risk of developing this disease.

In some people, rheumatism can also affect the eyes, skin, and lungs.

Rheumatism is an autoimmune disease. In the body of people with rheumatism, the immune system attacks healthy joint tissue. As a result, the joint tissue becomes inflamed.

Long-term rheumatism can even cause joint damage.

Rheumatism symptoms are found in certain areas of the body that are affected. This is what distinguishes rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.

Some of the symptoms of rheumatism include:

• The joint feels painful, warm, and stiff. Symptoms usually get worse in the morning or after being immobile for a long time.
• The joint looks red or swollen.
• Sluggish body and lack of appetite.

2. Rheumatic fever (rheumatic fever)

Rheumatic fever is an infectious disease that attacks the joints, skin, heart and brain. This disease can occur in all age groups, but children aged 5-15 years are most at risk.

Rheumatic fever is initially triggered by a streptococcal bacterial infection of the throat. Once it detects an infection, the immune system immediately sends out its defenses to eradicate the bacteria.

However, instead of overcoming the infection, this overloaded immune system actually causes a feverish and inflammatory reaction in the body.

Without immediate treatment, this inflammation can develop into rheumatic fever after 1-5 weeks. The fever will continue and is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Joint pain, especially in the knees, heels, wrists, and elbows.
• Chest pain, increased heart rate, and difficulty breathing. Some sufferers also experience a whistling sound (murmur) from the heart.
• Sluggish body.
• The body has a seizure.

3. Rheumatic heart disease

Rheumatic heart disease is a complication of rheumatic fever. This disease is caused by an overactive immune system triggered by the same bacteria.

It is called rheumatic heart disease because this disease attacks the connective tissue of the body, especially in the heart, joints, skin, and brain.

Rheumatic fever that repeatedly recurs makes the heart often becomes inflamed. As a result, the valve function of the heart is damaged.

If the heart valves do not work, blood flow will be obstructed and can interfere with the normal function of the heart.

Rheumatic heart disease is very dangerous if left untreated. Complications of this disease include causing an irregular heartbeat, stroke due to heart embolism, infection of the inner lining of the heart, to heart failure which results in death.

The main symptoms of this disease are heart murmurs, chest pain, difficulty breathing after exertion and when lying down, and weakness.

However, sufferers usually do not show symptoms for years.

Despite having similar terms, rheumatism, rheumatic fever, and rheumatic heart disease are three very different things.

What the three have in common is the inflammatory reaction in response to the immune system.

By knowing the differences between the three, you and your doctor can certainly provide appropriate and effective treatment.