Rheumatic fever is a serious inflammatory condition that many parts of the body including the heart, joints, nervous system and skin can be affected by. In most cases, children between the ages of 6 and 15 are affected. However, rheumatic fever can occur at any age and it affects females twice as much as males.

Symptoms of rheumatic fever generally follow an untreated streptococcal (strep) throat infection and appear within 5 weeks of the infection. Most cases of strep throat however, don't lead to rheumatic fever. In fact, only a small percentage of people with strep throat develop rheumatic fever, even when the infection is left untreated.

Many cases of rheumatic fever may affect the heart valves. This is known as rheumatic carditis and with this condition; normal blood flow through the heart can be interrupted. The cure for rheumatic fever has yet to be discovered but the key in preventing it, is treating the strep throat infection immediately.

Many times, symptoms are not present with a strep infection. But for those who experience symptoms, they may include:

- Sore Throat

- Red and Swollen Tonsils

- Fever

- Headache

- Muscle aches

Signs and symptoms of rheumatic fever may include:

- Painful & Swollen Joints

- Chest Pain

- Fatigue

- Shortness of Breath

When diagnosing rheumatic fever, your health care practitioner will mostly likely look for:

Inflammation of the Heart

Painful Arthritis (often affecting the ankles, wrists, knees and elbows)

Involuntary jerky movements of limbs and face

Broad, pink or faint-red, patches on the skin (uncommon)

Lumps under the Skin (uncommon)

Joint pain without inflammation

Fever

Previous Rheumatic fever or evidence of rheumatic heart disease

Abnormal Heartbeat

New Heart Murmurs

To date, the exact cause of rheumatic remains unknown. In a few cases, it seems certain parts of the body develop inflammation while the body itself is combating a strep throat infection.

Another possibility is that the immune system responds abnormally to the antigens produced by specific types of streptococcal bacteria. Experts are studying whether genetics play a role in this abnormal immune system response.

If you’re not interested in polluting your body with harmful chemicals such as prescription medications, try an natural approach to treating rheumatic fever by following the regimen outlined below:

Drink plenty of water and fresh juices.

Avoid eating solid food until the fever and joint pain is gone. Then, the diet should consist of fruits, vegetables and yogurt.

Avoid caffeine, soft drinks, fried foods, processed foods, salt and sugar.

Get plenty of rest to speed recovery.

The following supplements may also be very beneficial:

Chondroitin Sulfate (500 - 1,000 mg daily)- Strengthens joints, ligaments and tendons.

Garlic (2 capsules 3 times daily) - Natural antibiotic that boosts immune function.

L-Carnitine (500 mg twice daily on an empty stomach) - Protects the heart.

L-Methionine (500 mg twice daily on an empty stomach with water or juice & never milk) - Combats free radicals.

Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids (5,000 - 20,000 mg daily in divided doses) - Reduces pain and swelling.

Coenzyme Q10 (100 mg daily) - Boosts immune function.

Dimethylsulfoxide "DMSO" (Apply topically as directed on label) - Relieves joint pain.

Flaxseed Oil (take as directed on label) - Reduces pain and inflammation.

Bayberry Bark, Burdock Root, Milk Thistle, Nettle, Pau d’Arco, Sage and Yellow Dock - Purify the blood, combat infection and aid in recuperation after illness.

Kelp (1,000 - 1,500 mg daily) - Contains essential nutrients.

Birch Leaves and Lobelia - Aid in pain reduction.

Cordyceps - Benefits heart function.

Dandelion - Aids treatment of fever.

Catnip Tea - Nerve tonic that can also aid in fever reduction.