Rheumatic Fever

Your physician will make the diagnosis based on your child's medical history. Your doctor will conduct a complete physical exam (possibly including blood tests and an EKG) to confirm the presence of:

• Major criteria including:
  • Inflammation of the heart
  • Inflammation of more than one joitn
  • Unusual jerky movements, often involving the face and hands
  • Nodules or small, hard bumps under the skin
  • Rash
• Minor criteria including:
  • Fever
  • Joint pain
  • Changes in the EKG pattern

There is no definitive test for rheumatic fever. A diagnosis is made when there is evidence of a streptococcal infection plus the presence of either two major criteria or one major criterion and two minor criteria.