A sore throat can damage the heart

Every year many South African children and young adults are crippled or die as a result of rheumatic heart disease – and it all starts with an untreated sore throat. Rheumatic fever may occur within one to five weeks after an infection with untreated group A streptococcus, the bacterium that causes "strep throat" and scarlet fever.

Take action:

If you suspect that someone has rheumatic fever, seek treatment immediately. Look out for the following symptoms: fever, joint pain (which often moves from joint to joint), joint swelling (which may be accompanied by redness and a sensation of heat), abdominal pain, vomiting, skin rash, small lumps under otherwise normal-looking skin, involuntary jerky movements, muscle pain, confusion, decreased muscle tone, shakiness of one or more parts of the body, speech difficulties, coughing, fatigue, heart palpitations and chest pain.

Rheumatic heart disease