What is Rheumatic Fever?

Inflammation of the heart, which sometimes follows an attack of tonsillitis. Rheumatic fever, which occurs most commonly in children, is often associated with poor social conditions. Many attacks are probably mild and pass unrecognized. Damaged heart valves following unrecognized infections are not infrequent.

Rheumatic heart disease at autopsy with characteristic findings (thickened mitral valve, thickened chordae tendineae, hypertrophied left ventricular myocardium).