Types of Rheumatic Heart DiseaseAcute rheumatic fever, which starts as a strep throat infection, can lead to rheumatic heart disease if it is not treated with antibiotics. About 60% of people with rheumatic fever develop rheumatic heart disease. This occurs mostly in developing nations or disadvantaged communities and is most common between the ages of 5 and 15 years.Early diagnosis is important to prevent damage to the heart valves from rheumatic fever. medical alert elderly fall alarm Children with rheumatic fever should be seen on a regular basis by a cardiologist to check for signs of long-term heart damage.Carditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle and tissue is the most serious symptom of rheumatic fever. Some children do not get this and never have problems with their heart, while others develop severe carditis that can cause serious problems in the future. gps tracker for elderly Endocarditis, or inflammation of the inner lining of the heart, is also common in some children with rheumatic fever. This inflammation can damage the mitral and aortic valves.Inflammation of all the layers of the heart, called pancarditis, can happen in some people with rheumatic fever. This can cause the outer heart sac (pericardium) to swell, and in some people it can cause a hardening of the membranes that surround the heart.The main symptoms of rheumatic heart disease are breathlessness, wheezing and waking up with shortness of breath. They may also have blood in their sputum and the right side of the heart can fail to pump properly. In some cases, surgery can be needed to fix a damaged heart valve.