Children can sometimes have abnormal heartbeats. Most of these are not serious and will not affect the child's life span. More serious problems, however, may require immediate treatment. Some heart diseases in children are not congenital. Strep throat infections can lead to rheumatic fever in children and young adults.
Rheumatic fever can damage the heart muscle or heart valves.
With antibiotic treatment of strep infections, however, it is much less common. Other diseases, such as muscular dystrophy and Kawasaki Disease, can also affect the heart muscle or the arteries of the heart. These diseases are rare and should be treated by a specialist in children's heart diseases. All Rights Reserved.