Which organ of the body often damage permanently by rheumatic fever?
The organ of the body often damaged permanently by rheumatic fever is the heart. Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory condition that can occur as a complication of untreated streptococcal throat infections. It primarily affects the joints, heart, skin, and nervous system.
When rheumatic fever affects the heart, it leads to rheumatic heart disease. The inflammation caused by rheumatic fever can damage the heart valves, resulting in valve regurgitation or stenosis (narrowing).
The mitral and aortic valves are commonly affected, leading to mitral stenosis or aortic stenosis. These valve abnormalities can disrupt the normal blood flow through the heart, causing heart murmurs, shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, and other heart-related complications.
In severe cases, rheumatic heart disease can lead to heart failure and require medical intervention such as valve repair or replacement surgery. Therefore, early diagnosis and prompt treatment of streptococcal infections are crucial to prevent rheumatic fever and its potential long-term consequences on the heart.