Rheumatic Fever Info

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I found this while doing a search on Erythema Marginatum Rheumatica.

http://tinyurl.com/blb6q

Here is what it says about Rheumatic Fever.

Rheumatic fever - In many of these conditions systemic features play an important role in the differential diagnosis. Rheumatic fever is certainly one of these although most adults with rheumatic fever present with only arthritis. The pain is usually out of proportion to the swelling and the symptoms tend to be migratory. Other criteria include carditis, erythema marginatum, chorea, and subcutaneous nodules. Be sure to listen for a murmur and check ASO/streptozyme. The ASO should be followed serially and remember that a positive test still does not prove rheumatic fever. Throat cultures are usually negative by the time rheumatic fever occurs. One often spends time ruling out other diseases even with a suspicion for rheumatic fever due to the lack of definitive diagnostic testing. The presence of carditis though, is very compelling and can be made by echocardiogram.