Rheumatic fever is actually a complication of an infection, like strep throat, and not an infection itself. Although rheumatic fever used to be a major cause of heart disease in children, it is fortunately not very common any more.

Still, because strep throat is so common, it is a good idea to learn to recognize the symptoms of rheumatic fever and understand how it is diagnosed and treated.

Related: Strep Throat Symptoms | Scarlet Fever | Fever | Tonsillectomy