What to look for fever and tiredness. These symptoms often begin one to six weeks after a strep throat infection has appeared to clear up. Rheumatic fever is a follow-on from an untreated strep throat. It is possible that the patient had the strep throat and did not recognise it.
Rheumatic fever can also cause an inflammation in the heart, which is of concern.
Rheumatic fever will more than likely scar the valves of the heart which may lead to heart failure. In time, this damage to the heart can lead to rheumatic heart disease. The streptococcus A bacteria is responsible for this disease, as the body reacts to its presence. The body produces antibodies to fight the bacteria, but instead the antibodies attack the body's own tissues. The antibodies begin with the joints and often move on to the heart and surrounding tissues.