Rheumatic Heart Disease
WHAT IS IT?
Rheumatic Heart Disease is the sequelae of Rheumatic fever which is an infection by a bacterium (beta hemolytic streptococcus). The fever affects children or young adults. It typically presents with fever and joint inflammations. The common joints affected are knee, hip and elbow. The joint lesions heal without any scar.
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| Rheumatic Heart Disease - Symptoms & Treatments |
Rheumatic Valvular Disease is caused by the immunological reaction of the body which is misdirected at the valvular tissue. It causes inflammation and scarring of the heart valves and results in valve dysfunction – stenosis or regurgitation or a combination.
SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of valvular diseases will vary depending on the type valve, nature of lesion (block or leak), the severity of lesion and rapidity of progress.
Dyspnea or Breathlessness:
This is one of the commonest symptoms of any type of valvular disease. From mild to most severe form this symptom can vary in intensity. Milder forms present only on exertion while more severe forms can be present even at rest.
Palpitation:
Awareness of one’s own heartbeats is known as Palpitation. Valve disorders can present with various types of rhythm disturbances. Extra beats are quite common.
Angina: Presentation of angina is just like that in Coronary Artery Disease. This symptom is common in Aortic Stenosis and can often be confusing
Giddiness: Often the presenting symptom in Aortic lesions. In Aortic stenosis it is seen early while in Aortic regurgitation it is late symptom.
Non-specific symptoms: Patients may experience extreme tiredness, nausea, loss of appetite and even weight loss.
TREATMENT
Medical Treatment: Once the valve disorder is diagnosed, initial line of treatment will be medical. Depending on the type of lesion and severity of the lesion the treatment also differs.
If the symptoms are relieved by medications, the treatment can be continued until the disease progresses to the next stage.
Balloon Valvotomy: In stenotic lesions of Mitral or Pulmonary valves, Dilatation of the stenosed valve by using a special balloon is a favored treatment. The valve must be soft without calcification and pliable.
Valve Replacement: Severe valve disorders that cannot be treated by other methods may need valve replacement.
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