Rheumatic heart disease is a condition in which the heart valves have been permanently damaged by rheumatic fever. It is a complication of rheumatic fever which starts as strep throat generally leading to acute or chronic heart disorders. Rheumatic fever can cause inflammation of connective tissues throughout the body including the heart, joints, brain or skin. In this fever, the heart valves get damaged leading to valve disorder. This forces the heart to work harder to pump blood and may cause heart failure over time.

The heart valve damage may start shortly after untreated or under-treated streptococcal infection. Untreated or under-treated strep infections can increase the risk for rheumatic heart disease. Children who get repeated strep throat infections are at the most risk for rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.

According to Ayurveda, rheumatic fever is known as Amavata Jwara which means the fever where patients get swellings and joint pains. It happens due to imbalance in digestive power in the body.