Home / How Can I tell if My Child Has Rheumatic Fever?

How Can I tell if My Child Has Rheumatic Fever?

Last Updated on 10 years by Publishing Team

There are several symptoms with Rheumatic Fever. Your child may display many of the symptoms, or just one.
Symptoms can include:

• sore or swollen joints (knees, elbows, ankles, shoulders and wrists)
• skin rash, or spots on the skin
• painless lumps under the skin (over bony parts)
• fever
• tiredness
• jerky or uncontrolled movements, worsening writing or dropping things (chorea)
• shortness of breath
• chest pain (in severe RHD)

In around 40-60 % of cases, Rheumatic Fever causes damage to the heart valves. Though most symptoms of Rheumatic Fever will get better, any damage to the heart will be long-term and may worsen with further attacks of Rheumatic Fever.