How is rheumatic fever treated? · Antibiotics: Healthcare providers prescribe antibiotics to treat the underlying bacterial infection. · Anti- ...NowschedulingCOVID-19vaccineappointmentsforages16+LearnhowtoscheduleCOVID-19vaccineFAQsNewvisitationhoursNeedaCOVID-19testbeforetravel,schoolorchildcare?Home/HealthLibrary/Disease&ConditionsRheumaticFeverRheumaticfevercanhappenwhenstrepthroatorscarletfevergoesuntreated.Itmostlyaffectschildren.ItisrareintheU.S.becauseproviderseffectivelytreatbacterialinfectionswithantibiotics.Callyourproviderifyourchildhasasorethroatformorethanthreedays.Withouttreatment,rheumaticfevercancauseserioushealthproblems.Appointments800.659.7822Appointments&LocationsTalktoaHeartNurseContactUsOverviewSymptomsandCausesDiagnosisandTestsManagementandTreatmentPreventionOutlook/PrognosisLivingWithRheumaticFeverOverviewSymptomsandCausesDiagnosisandTestsManagementandTreatmentPreventionOutlook/PrognosisLivingWithBackToTopOverviewWhatisrheumaticfever?Rheumaticfeverisanautoimmunediseasethatinflamesthebody’stissues,suchasthejointsandheart.Healthcareprovidersmayalsocallitacuterheumaticfever.Ithappenswhenthebody’simmunesystemoverreactstoastrepthroatorscarletfeverinfectionthathasn’tbeenfullytreated.Rheumaticfevercausesyourbody’simmunesystemtoattackitsowntissues,causinginflammation(swelling).Rheumaticfevermayaffectthejoints,heartorbloodvessels.Arerheumaticfeverandscarletfeverthesamething?No.ScarletfeverandstrepthroatareinfectionscausedbygroupAStreptococcusbacteria.ScarletfeverandstrepthroatarecommongroupAStreptococcusinfections.Healthcareproviderstreatthemwithantibiotics.Rheumaticfeverisaveryrarecomplicationofscarletfeverandstrepthroat.Itcanhappenwhenoneoftheseinfectionsgoesuntreated.Howcommonisrheumaticfever?WhilestrepinfectionsarecommonintheU.S.,rheumaticfeverisnot.BecauseantibioticsarewidelyavailableintheU.S.,mostpeoplegettreatmentforstrepthroatandscarletfever.Clearinguptheseconditionspreventsrheumaticfever.Rheumaticfeverhappensmoreofteninplaceswithlimitedresou