Mozart died of rheumatic fever. So did the poet Robert Burns. And so do almost half a million other people worldwide, every year. It’s a serious immune disease which primarily affects children aged five to 15 years – and it all starts with an untreated sore throat.
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Symptoms usually appear about two to four weeks after an untreated streptococcal throat infection. These may include: fever; joint pain; 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; unusual, 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. If you suspect that someone has rheumatic fever, seek treatment immediately.
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