Rheumatic Fever
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease caused by streptococcus bacteria. Typically rheumatic fever tends to affect children in the age group 6 - 15 years. Often rheumatic fever tends to follow a strep throat or scarlet fever or any other streptococcus infection. Rheumatic fever is characterized by symptoms such as fever and skin rash. The joints tend to get swollen and painful. Rheumatic fever damages the heart valves and can lead to severe disabling problems. Persons who have suffered a case of rheumatic fever have a tendency to develop flare-ups with repeated strep infections. The patient may experience chest pain, fatigue and shortness of breath. The patient suffers heart inflammation accompanied by weakness or chest pain. There may be involuntary jerky movements of hands and legs. Rheumatic fever can lead to Sydenham's chorea - a temporary nervous system disorder.
Blood counts, ESR and ECG help in diagnosing rheumatic fever. A physician will check joints for pain and inflammation and listen for any abnormal rhythms in your heart. It is essential that persons suffering from strep infection treat it without delay lest it manifest into rheumatic fever. Any nodules over swollen joints and red rashes on the chest, back and abdomen must not be ignored. Treatment for rheumatic fever involves reduction of inflammation and antibiotics such as penicillin, sulfadiazine or erythromycin. Persons suffering from rheumatic fever can suffer heart damage and attacks. Treatment for rheumatic fever usually includes anti-infective agents and anti-inflammatory agents. Sometimes cardiac medications are also prescribed for patients suffering from rheumatic fever.
Oral thrush
Fungal Throat Infection is also referred to as oral thrush. It is an infection caused by the yeast fungus Candida albicans. In most people, the presence of Candida in the oral cavity is not uncommon. It is only when there is a change the favors the growth of candida that a fungal throat infection develops. Conditions such as diabetes, AIDS and malnutrition can trigger this change.
Persons suffering from oral thrush will notice whitish spots in the mouth. There may be burning or bleeding. It can lead to fungal infection of the throat and consequently nausea and difficulty in swallowing. A throat culture helps in identifying the micro organisms that cause the infection in the throat. It could reveal epiglottis, strep throat, pharyngitis or diptheria. Antifungal drugs such as nystatin, amphotericin or miconazole are used to treat oral thrush.
Roseola
Roseola or Baby measles is a viral illness that affects very young children, from 3 months to 4 years. Roseola can be traced to the human herpesvirus. Roseola is contagious and spreads through sneezlng, person to person contact and coughing. Often symptoms of roseola are mistaken for strep throat or ear infection.
Typical symptoms of roseola include high fever and appearance of rash. The child might suffer from upper respiratory illness such as runny nose or sore throat. The characteristic roseola rash appears after a few days of high fever. This rash resembles flat pink spots and is noticed all over the body. The high fever often brings on febrile convulsions in some children. The child will have reduced appetite and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. There might be swollen eyelids and mild diarrhea. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen is often prescribed to lower the fever. Roseola is not usually treated with any medications. The child must taken plenty of fluids and take bed rest.
Bibliography / Reference
| 