In most cases the initial focus of infection is the skin and soft tissues. Treatment involves intensive care, surgical care and antibiotic therapy. Acute rheumatic fever is a disease characterised by inflammation of the heart, joints, tissue underlying the skin, and central nervous system. It may damage the heart permanently. It is likely to be a result of either toxic effects of Streptococcal products, or antibodies produced by us to fight the bacteria which actually start to attack the parts of our own body-called an autoimmune phenomena.
Affected individuals take life-long antibiotic therapy to prevent further attacks.
Poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis is also an autoimmune phenomena as with acute rheumatic fever. However, this time the antibodies made by us to fight the bacteria attack our own kidneys resulting in kidney damage. Patients may become very sick and require intensive medical care. In order to prevent some of the illnesses caused by this bacteria a number of things may be done. Also make sure your tetanus vaccinations are up to date.