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Symptoms and Treatments of Rheumatic Fever and Memphis ACLS Classes

Rheumatic fever damages the heart valves through substances (antibodies) that the body produces to fight streptococcal (strep) infection. Rheumatic fever is no longer common in the United States in the face of availability of medicines to treat strep infections. Prior to discussing about the symptoms and treatments for the condition, let us bring to your notice the life-saving CPR procedures.

The cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedures are referred to as life-saving as proper administration of the techniques can revive the life of a victim involved in a cardiac emergency. Choose an accredited training center for acquiring training such as the AHA accredited CPR Memphis in Tennessee. Both theoretical and practical training are imparted to the students. Here are a few points about an “ACLS class Memphis”.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support classes- This course has been designed for advanced medical professionals. Skills such as managing airways, initiating IV’s, understanding ECG’s and emergency pharmacology are all essential components in any AHA ACLS certification class. The course involves teaching team communication in response to immediate and post cardiac arrest care.
The program fee is $297.

Rheumatic Fever Symptoms:
1.      Damaged heart valves, the symptoms of which may not be noticed for some time, eventually can lead to serious problems. The problems depend on the severity of the damage and the heart valve that is affected. The most advanced condition is congestive heart failure, in which an enlarged heart is unable to pump sufficient blood to the body.

2.      Some symptoms linked with rheumatic fever that aren’t heart-related includes joint pain and swelling that changes through different joints, skin rash (typically on the trunk or arms), subcutaneous nodules (painless bumps that typically appear on the back of the wrist, outside elbow or front of the knees) or abnormal rapid limb movements.

Treatments:
Antibiotics to stop the strep infection is an effective treatment for rheumatic heart disease. A child diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease will need to take antibiotics either by mouth everyday or a once-a-month injection until adulthood to prevent future infections.

If rheumatic fever causes endocarditis- aspirin, steroids and medications for congestive heart failure may be given.

As a last resort to significant damage to the heart valve, surgical repair or replacement may be the last option.

Rheumatic Fever Complications:
1.      Heart or heart valve damage may be permanent or temporary. Valve damage can cause narrowing (stenosis), which then do not allow enough blood to flow through or can prevent the valve from closing properly and lead to valve “leakage,” in which blood flows backward in the heart.

2.      Heart valve damage can lead to serious problems like congestive heart failure when the heart will be unable to supply enough blood to the rest of the body.

3.      The risk for developing an infection of the heart's lining or valves (endocarditis) tends to be higher for people whose ticker has been affected with rheumatic fever.

For more information or to join a course at CPR Memphis, call on 901-438-4200.
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