How is rheumatic fever diagnosed?
Physicians diagnose rheumatic fever based on a clinical examination, since there is not a single laboratory test that can diagnose it. Clinical criteria, called the Jones Criteria, take into account the most common findings of patients with rheumatic fever. Thus, physicians may use the Jones Criteria to diagnose rheumatic fever. However, the Jones Criteria can be difficult to apply; many diseases may appear to fulfill the Jones Criteria, but are not rheumatic fever. There are five major criteria (carditis, arthritis, chorea, erythema marginatum, and subcutaneous nodules). Less specific findings, called minor criteria, include fever, aching (not arthritis) of the joints, and several very non-specific laboratory tests. The presence of two major criteria or one major and two minor criteria, plus a recent strep infection, should lead to a possible diagnosis of rheumatic fever. top Treatment Initially, the treatment of rheumatic fever focuses on the therapy of the group A streptococcal infe
