eMedicine - Rheumatic Fever

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is an inflammatory process occurring as a delayed sequela to group A streptococcal pharyngitis due to certain group A streptococcal types. ARF is extremely variable in its manifestations and remains a clinical syndrome for which no specific diagnostic test exists. Persons who have experienced an episode of ARF are particularly predisposed to recurrent episodes following subsequent specific (rheumatogenic) types of group A streptococcal infections.