Rheumatic heart disease encompasses a variety of heart abnormalities, the most of common of which is a damaged heart valve. Rheumatic heart disease is caused by a bacterial infection that travels to the heart. If the infection is not treated in time, the heart valves can be scarred, according to the University of California, San Francisco Children's Hospital. Heart disease can occur in any age group, but most often the primary infection begins between the ages of 4 and 18. Symptoms of rheumatic heart disease are the same as for rheumatic fever.
Heart Murmur
As patients develop rheumatic fever, the bacteria can damage the heart. The most common cardiac symptom listed by HealthSquare.com is the presence of a cardiac murmur. Murmurs are abnormal heart sounds that can only be detected with a stethoscope. A heart murmur in the presence of rheumatic fever can indicate damage to the valves of the heart.
Fatigue
Chronic fatigue has been noted by the American Heart Association as a feature of the fever that causes rheumatic heart disease. The fatigue is most often caused by a combination of the heart's inability to properly circulate oxygenated to blood to the body and the excessive energy spent fighting off the bacterial infection.
Joint Swelling
Rheumatic fever that causes rheumatic heart disease is commonly associated with a swelling of one or more joints, according to the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. The swelling is accompanied by tenderness and pain. The joints that are usually infected are the large joints of the knee and ankle. The inflammation can transfer from one joint to another as the fever progresses.
Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath is occasionally a characteristic of rheumatic heart disease, according to the UCSF Children's Hospital. The lungs of patients with heart disease can become clogged with blood, which may cause the patient to be unable to breathe efficiently. The shortness of breath is more noticeable after exercise.
Chest Pain and Irregular Pulse
Often, rheumatic disease can present with chest pain and an irregular pulse, as reported by HealthSquare.com. These clinical features are linked to damage to the heart tissue caused by the bacterial infection. The damage to the heart muscle and valves can lead to pain and a pulse that is either too fast, too slow or difficult to detect.
