Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS website.
Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or view any of our Previous A to Z Features.
You should also know that OutUK has produced a special report about: Coronavirus Covid-19.

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This Week - R : Rheumatic Fever

How rheumatic fever is treated

If you or your child are diagnosed with rheumatic fever, you'll have treatment to relieve the symptoms and control inflammation.

You may need:

  • antibiotics
  • painkillers - given as tablets, capsules or a liquid you drink
  • steroids - if your pain is severe
  • medicines to treat severe jerky, uncontrollable movements

Getting plenty of bed rest will also help with your recovery.

Most people usually make a full recovery by about 3 months. But it can sometimes take longer to get better.

Ongoing treatment for rheumatic fever

If you've had rheumatic fever once, it's more likely to come back, so make sure to get sore throats treated early.

You may also have to take antibiotics for several years to help stop it returning.

It's less likely that it will come back if it's been 5 years since you last had an episode. The younger you are, the more likely it is that rheumatic fever will come back.

It can also cause permanent damage to your heart (rheumatic heart disease). This can take years to show up, so you may need regular check-ups and further treatment when you're older.

Always ask a doctor what ongoing treatment you may need.

See a GP if:

  • you've had rheumatic fever before and you get a sore throat
  • you've had rheumatic fever before and you think it's come back
  • you've had a bacterial throat infection recently and you get symptoms of rheumatic fever

Symptoms of rheumatic fever

Symptoms of rheumatic fever usually appear 1 to 5 weeks after you've had a bacterial throat infection.

They can include:

  • a high temperature
  • pain and swelling in your joints (arthritis), usually ankles, knees, wrists or elbows - your joints may also look red, although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin
  • pain in your chest, breathlessness and a fast heart rate
  • jerky, uncontrollable movements in your hands, feet and face
  • tiny bumps under your skin
  • pale-red patches on your arms and tummy (abdomen) - these may be harder to see on brown or black skin

Causes of rheumatic fever

Rheumatic fever happens after a bacterial throat or skin infection. Most people who have an infection will not get rheumatic fever.

It's not caused by the bacteria itself but by your immune system fighting off the infection and attacking the healthy tissue instead.

It's not known why your immune system can suddenly stop working properly. But your genes may make it more likely that you'll get rheumatic fever.



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We'll have more information and advice next week on another topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features.

If you want to find out more about this week's subject you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.

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