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Symptoms of Rheumatic Cough

A rheumatic cough is a dry, almost hacking cough that commonly accompanies a disease known as rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is a complication, according to the Mayo Clinic, of the streptococcus bacteria that causes strep throat. While not a prevalent or widespread condition in the United States, there is still the potential to develop this condition, especially when traveling to underdeveloped nations of the world.

  1. Cough

    • The most common symptom of rheumatic cough is a fairly dry, unproductive cough, in that it will rarely produce any sputum or mucus during its activity. This cough, especially after more prolonged cases, may become very painful and cause some irritation to the lungs and airways, causing a sore throat and/or chest pain.

    Fever

    • Most people suffering from a rheumatic cough will also experience a mild to moderate fever, which would be anything between 99 and 101 degrees F in temperature. This elevation in temperature is actually a reaction to the inflammation that is occurring within the muscles and tissue of the body as a result of the streptococcus bacteria.

    Pain

    • Many times, a rheumatic cough will also be accompanied by a certain amount of pain or discomfort in and around the joints of the body. For some, it will affect only one joint. For others, it will affect a number of joints. It really depends on where the inflammation is occurring, be it the ankles and wrists, the knees and elbows, the hands and feet or the shoulders and hips. This pain may also cause the affected areas to become flushed and warm to the touch.

    Cardiovascular Issues

    • There is also the potential for the inflammation linked to rheumatic cough to affect a person's heart. If this happens, a person may begin to suffer from uneven or irregular heartbeats, rapid heartbeats or an almost pounding rhythm to the heart. As the heart experiences these changes, it may cause a person to suffer from a shortness of breath and a certain amount of fatigue or exhaustion.

    Lumps

    • When the streptococcus bacterium develops into a rheumatic cough and fever, it is also possible for a person to begin to suffer the formation of small nodules or lumps just under the skin. While these lumps are normally painless, they can create some discomfort when located on certain areas of the body, like the buttocks, back and joints.

    Rash

    • For some people, a rheumatic cough will bring with it raised, somewhat flushed bands or circles on the skin. This rash isn't painful or agonizing to the sufferer, but will come and go as the condition persists.

    Other Symptoms

    • On occasion, rheumatic cough, and the fever that causes it, may prompt a person to encounter a change in her cognitive nature, experiencing periodic bouts of crying or laughing, according to the Mayo Clinic. It may also cause other people to suffer from intermittent twitching or shaking of the feet, hands, legs, arms and even face.

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