Keywords:
Acute Disease; anti-Bacterial agents; therapeutic use;
rheumatic fever; diagnosis; epidemiology; physiopathology; prevention & control; etiology; streptococcal infections; vaccines; pyogenes
Abstract:
Acute rheumatic fever is an autoimmune disorder resulting from Group A Streptococcus pharyngitis or impetigo in children and adolescents, which may evolve to rheumatic heart disease (RHD) with persistent cardiac valve damage. RHD causes substantial mortality and morbidity globally, predominantly among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, with an interplay of social determinants of health and genetic factors determining overall risk.