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Rheumatic Fever in Children
Rheumatic fever is a serious illness that usually afflicts children between the ages of 5 and 15 years. This disease usually develops after a particular case of a sore throat and can affect the heart of the child.
What is Rheumatic Fever?
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that is usually caused by the improper treatment of any condition caused by the Streptococcus bacteria such as scarlet fever or strep throat. It develops between two to four weeks after the initial infection and affects the joints, skin, heart and even the brain.
Causes of Rheumatic Fever in Kids
One of the main causes is the occurrence of an infection caused by Streptococcus bacteria such as scarlet fever, impetigo, cellulitis, and strep throat. While the bacteria do not cause the fever, they spark off an autoimmune response by the body that is called rheumatic fever. The body targets cells in the central nervous system, heart, joints, and skin.
Some studies have shown a correlation between genetics and the occurrence of this fever.
Environmental factors such as poor sanitation, unhygienic surroundings, and lack of access to healthcare are also factors that contribute to the development of rheumatic fever.
Who is at Risk of Rheumatic Fever?
This fever most commonly afflicts children between the ages of 5 and 15 years. The biggest risk factor of rheumatic fever is the occurrence of strep throat and infection that causes pain and inflammation in the throat. Other conditions include pyoderma which is a skin condition.
Rheumatic Fever Symptoms in Children
The symptoms of rheumatic fever in children can be hard to pin down as they will change over the course of the illness. Depending on the individual illness, all the symptoms or just a few will be observed. Some of the symptoms that you might observe include:
Fever of more than 101 degrees – If your child has a consistent fever with a temperature over 101 degrees Fahrenheit, it could be a symptom of the ailment. It is recommended that you seek medical help immediately if the fever persists beyond an afternoon or at most a day.
A sore throat with or without swollen lymph nodes – Rheumatic fever is commonly accompanied by a sore throat. This can include the lymph nodes being swollen as well, a sore throat alone, however, is not a sign of this condition and has to be accompanied by a high fever and at least one more symptom.
Headache – A mild to a severe headache combined with the fever can indicate a rheumatic fever. This, however, is not conclusive.
Nausea – While this symptom can be confused with a gastric condition, if it accompanies a sore throat, then you must get your child tested.
Vomiting – be sure to administer oral rehydration while you wait for a doctor’s attention.
Nosebleeds – this symptom is not too common and occurs rarely.
Pain in the joints particularly the knees, elbows, wrists, and ankles; the characteristic property of this pain is that it migrates from one to other points in the body.
Bumps below the skin – usually they are painless.
Pain in the chest – this usually indicates that the heart has been affected by the fever.
Heart murmur – more often than not, one or more valves of the heart are affected by rheumatic fever, and can cause arrhythmia, or heart murmurs.
Fatigue that is a result of all the joint pain and other aches in the body.
Jerky movements that are uncontrollable.
Unusual behaviour such as laughing or crying at inappropriate moments caused usually by the fever getting to the head.
How Diagnosis is Done
When you take your child to his paediatrician, the first thing she will make note of is your child’s medical history. She will also check to see if your child has had a recent bout of strep throat. Apart from this, she will also conduct a physical examination that will include the following:
She will look out for any rashes on the body which will feel like hard bumps under the skin.
She will listen to the heart to check for any abnormalities.
She will also conduct a few movement tests to check the nervous system.
Checking for inflammation in the joints is also necessary.
There may be blood tests to see if there is a strep infection.
Electrocardiogram and echocardiogram are performed to check for any abnormalities in the heart.
Risks and Complications
Rheumatic fever can last for a long time going up to a few months and can have several long-term effects if not monitored closely. These complications include:
Rheumatic heart disease
Narrowing of a heart valve
A leak in a heart valve causing the blood to flow in the wrong direction
Heart muscle inflammation that causes the muscles of the heart to weaken
Irregular heartbeat
Heart failure
Sydenham chorea which is jerky uncontrollable movements of the muscle
Treatment for Rheumatic Fever
The treatment plan for rheumatic fever will mainly involve fighting the streptococcus bacterial infection and management of the symptoms.
1. Antibiotics
Antibiotics will be prescribed in order to fight the infections. Your doctor will also recommend a long-term treatment in order to ensure that the infection does not repeat again. This treatment can last up to five years.
2. Anti-inflammatory
One of the main symptoms of Rheumatic fever is inflammation of different parts of the body. Your child’s paediatrician will put your child on an anti-inflammatory treatment.
3. Anticonvulsants
If your child is experiencing uncontrollable jerky movements, then her doctor will prescribe anticonvulsants to control the movements.
4. Bed Rest
Your child will need extensive amounts of bed rest until the inflammation and other severe symptoms go away. If the heart is affected, then your child will need more bed rest in order to not tax the heart. This will be necessary for anywhere between a few weeks to a few months.
Is Rheumatic Fever Reversible?
The chances of your child developing the fever again are highest in the first three years of contracting it for the first time. However, with a treatment plan that involves the use of antibiotics for an extended period of time, your child should be able to fight the incidence of the disease.
With time, as your child grows older, the chances of the reoccurrence will decrease. Once your child is 18 years old, your child’s doctor might decide to stop the antibiotic treatment entirely.
Prevention
The only way to avoid Rheumatic fever in your child is to ensure that any incidence of strep throat is fully and quickly treated. Be sure to get medical attention and schedule follow-up visits with your child’s doctor in order to determine if the infection has gone away fully. You must also make sure that the entire course of medications is taken.
In order to avoid incidences of strep throat, your child can follow the tips given below:
Teach your child the importance of covering their mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing. Rheumatic fever is not contagious, but strep throat is.
Your child must wash their hands regularly, especially before and after eating food.
If your child is sick, then do not send them to school. Conversely, do not let your child play or interact with other children who are sick.
Make sure that your sick child’s things are not shared with anyone else unless it has been washed and sterilised.
Rheumatic fever can have severe implications on the health of your child’s body. Making sure that your child gets the adequate amount of medical attention is key to managing this condition. Follow the basic rules of hygiene in order to avoid a streptococcus-bacteria infection which is the precursor to the disease.
Also Read: Best Home Remedies for Fever in Children Read more
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6 Cool Pregnancy Gadgets for Expectant Moms
Expectant moms are almost always rocked with anxiety as they wait for the most defining moment of their lives to unfold. A little help along the way is always welcome. Thanks to the invention of hi-tech gadgets for pregnant women, those nine months can be less stressful and more interesting.
Our mothers didn’t have it easy, but thanks to the overload of technology, pregnant women can now track every tiny course of their nine-month-long journey. Here’s a look at some of the best pregnancy gadgets you'll be glad exists.
6 New-Age Pregnancy Gadgets for Moms-to-Be
1. Prenatal tracking device
You don’t have to depend on those monthly visits to the Doctor’s chamber to listen to your baby’s heartbeat. This handheld device allows you to listen to that tiny heartbeat anytime you want. Let your family feel the excitement too as this device even records the baby’s heartbeat, so you can send it to your near and dear ones.
2. Pregnancy headphones
You and your unborn child can both listen to music together with these belly phones that are designed to play music to your womb. They come with adhesive rings so you can plug them onto your growing tummy and ‘shake it baby’. You can even record the voices of loved ones and play it back for the baby.
3. Baby kick monitor
Knowing your baby is alive and kicking is soothing for any mother-to-be. This prenatal gadget helps you keep a track of your baby’s kicking habits. It is especially handy when nearing the end of pregnancy as it can also be used to time contractions, so you know when you're inching closer to the big day. ||
4. Nausea relieving Bio Bands
Suffering from morning sickness? This Bio Band relieves you of nausea through acupressure. It’s just a tiny bead on the band, which presses down onto your wrist and magically drives nausea away. You’ll be wondering where that morning sickness disappeared to. The best part - you don’t have to worry about any side effect as the band is free of chemicals.
5. Growing baby pregnancy watch
This fashionable watch cum pregnancy device tells you how many weeks you're into your pregnancy. If you’re still deliberating on a name for your precious one, this watch can help you with that too. It comes with a list of baby names in case you missed out on any. What a friend in need, we think!
6. Digi Time Capsule baby book
How we all want to capture those priceless baby moments and record them in a baby book, right? This Digi Time Capsule doubles as a keepsake necklace and digital baby book, which documents your child’s life up to the age of five. It comes in the shape of a heart pendant that opens up to reveal a USB port. Plug it into your computer and document your memories through online journals, photos and videos. You can keep those memories close to your heart by wearing it around your neck.
Even if you aren’t expecting, these attractive gadgets for pregnancy might get you working on conceiving sooner than you expected. They are built for convenience and comfort and to take care of you and your baby right from the time of gestation to the final hours. Read more
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How to Pack for a Destination Wedding
Destination weddings have become a hot trend and if you're planning to attend one, you need to learn the basics of packing. Out-of-town celebrations can turn out to be fabulous adventures, only if you plan well. Learn what to pack for a destination wedding to remain stress-free.
Being a guest at a faraway wedding can be fun and absolutely memorable. But you need to make sure you pack all your essentials for the entire ceremony and for your own mini vacation. Before you get swept away dreaming about the fabulous destination, it's a good idea to make a checklist.
Decide Your Packing Check-list for a Destination Wedding
1. Plan The Dates
Destination weddings conjure not just images of romantic ceremonies, but plenty of fun and merrymaking. Set aside dates for events and tick off items to pack for the destination wedding. Count how long you’ll be away, right from the time you leave to the time of the rehearsal dinner, the wedding and beyond. Pack appropriate clothing so that you’re not left wanting.
2. When the invite says ‘No gifts please’
When it's a destination wedding, your presence is all that matters to the bride and the groom. They know how much effort you’ve made and how much you’ve spent to make it for the wedding. So don’t stress yourself trying to find the perfect gift for the couple. Even the usual things like kitchen essentials and artwork are more than enough.
3. Dress up for the Part
When it comes to weddings, dancing shoes should definitely find their way into your suitcase. Make sure your saree, lehenga or formal dress is pressed and packed into bags. Carry a chic black dress as a back-up plan in case of last-minute troubles. You could carry your entire jewellery collection, but it’ll take up a lot of space. Instead, keep it to a minimum and take along only a pair of statement earrings and a ring. When packing children’s clothes, stick to those that aren’t too heavily embellished. They’re easier to care for and won’t damage easily.
4. Mind baggage allowance
With kids around, minimising on luggage can be tough. But it’s important to unless you’re willing to pay for extra baggage. Your packing list for the destination wedding shouldn’t include many toys. Just make a little room for a couple of them and allocate more space for supplies like baby formula, a first aid kit and washable nappies. The kids will have more fun where you’re going than with their toys!
5. Include a touch-up kit
Carrying just your clothes and spare heels won't do. You need to take along tools to style your hair. Include rollers and a straightening iron to help you sport hairdos to suit the time and place. Little things like hair pins, hair accessories, false eye lashes and safety pins should also make your list. Pen them down on your destination wedding packing checklist.
Get ready to book the tickets and pack your bags. Once you have everything in order and ready to go, you can sit back and enjoy the experience. You’ll feel a lot less hassled and even the kids won’t drive you as mad when you learn how to pack for a destination wedding! Read more
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Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
12 hours ago
Q. #asktheexpert
now I'm 24 weeks. Sometimes I'm feeling pain in my thigh.
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
12 hours ago
A. For thegh query asked needs consultation with doctor for proper guidance so it is better that the doctor will guide you the correct way .
Onlfine consultation can also be taken and the expert will give you the proper answer .
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
8 hours ago
Q. #asktheexpert
what is the pain killer than can be taken by a breastfeeding mother to deal with pain of stitches after delivery?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
4 hours ago
A. dolo 650 safe analgesic. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Anu Sharma has added a new answer
Expecting Father due in 3 months
2 hours ago
Q. My wife taking tablets for UTI it caused fever last week she took paracetamol and Pan D in IV and now for the past 5 days taking Nitrofurantoin tablet IP I have two questio
1) Will this tablets and IV affect my baby in any way and it's growth inside
2) She says still feeling some pain groin and abdomen area comparatively lesser than previous days
3) Any diets to avoid this UTI in future
Read moreAnu Sharma
Mom of a 1 yr old boy
1 hour ago
A. UTI infection is common in pregnecy. Better to consult gyne
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. ma lmp 28.9.2023 edd date 5.7.2024 ma age 25.7.1999 ma beby boy or girl plsss tell me mam
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
1 hour ago
A. be not possible to tell. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr. Minal Acharya has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 5 months
1 hour ago
Q. Hii...., Is it safe to eat jackfruit in 4th month of pregnancy, daily 2 ...
Dr. Minal Acharya
Nutritionist
1 hour ago
A. dear mam, you can eat jackfruit during the 4th month of pregnancy. there is no problem in having it. you can eat all types of seasonal vegetables and fruits even green leafy vegetables.
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
18 mins ago
Q. is that positive result??? my Due date is tommoro I am having vomitting and nausea and back pain etc please reply asap
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
15 mins ago
A. Regarding the mentioned concern your local doctor will guide you in a proper way and the doubts can be cleared accordijtngly .so you can discuss and get the solution for query.
Also online consultation can be taken on the platform and it will also be helpful in getting the proper guidance as there could be a detailed discussion which would be benifecial helpful in the correct manner .
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