Rheumatic fever is a result of certain bacterial infections (Streptococcus Group A), causing pain of the joints (polyarthritis) and the heart (endo-, myo- or pericarditis). It occurs often when a scarlet fever or strep throat is not treated appropriately. It is an inflammatory illness and a complication of scarlet fever and strep throat. The condition is most common in children between 5 and 15 years old. Acute rheumatic fever can occur also in adults and younger children. The condition is rare in developed nations but common in numerous developing countries.
Rheumatic fever is a disease of the skin, joints, heart, and (rarely) the brain, which can form after an incorrectly (or non-)treated bacterial infection of Streptococcus pyogenes. Group A streptococci often cause an infection of the tonsils. Complications can be, similar to an allergic reaction, a polyarthritis and endo-, myo- or pericarditis, in rare cases also rheumatic nodes in the skin and an attack on the nervous systems (chorea minor).
10-20 days after a Streptococcus pyogenes infection of the mouth, nose and throat area, the rheumatic fever occurs. Patients suffer from generic symptoms such as fever, headache and sweating, in addition to the typical migratory joint pain with painful swollen and overheated joints. Involvement of the heart rarely causes noticeable symptoms, but it should be checked repeatedly, especially for possible heart valve destructions. If the skin is involved, typical circular rashes and rheumatic nodes occur mainly on the extensor side of the joints. If the nervous system is involved, it mainly shows in a clumsiness and unrest of the extremities.
A throat swab and specific blood tests can prove a Streptococcus pyogenes infection, and together with the symptoms mentioned above, the diagnosis of rheumatic fever can be confirmed. Therapy concentrates on fighting the Streptococcus with penicillin and on treating the inflammatory responses of joints, heart and other affected areas, most often with cortisone, or sometimes Aspirin. The treatment takes 4-6 weeks. The prognosis of rheumatic fever mainly depends on its severity and how strong the heart valves are affected. Today, rheumatic fever is a rare condition, because most infections of the upper respiratory tract are immediately treated with antibiotics.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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