arthritis in rheumatic fever
Last reviewed 01/2018
- most common major manifestation of rheumatic fever
- occurs in 75% of patients
- not a deforming arthritis
- migratory arthritis affecting large joints
- in order of frequency, the ankle, knee, wrist, elbow, hip and shoulder
- arthritis is of sudden onset with joint pain reaching maximum intensity within 12 to 24 hours
- swelling associated with the arthritis is generally modest compared with the severe pain
- redness of the joint is minimal
- pain in a particular joint will usually last for less than 1 week
- by the time the pain in a particular joint has subsided then the arthritis has migrated to another
- the process of migratory arthritis lasts for 3-6 weeks