Pediatrician Dr. Rizky Adriansyah from Medan's Haji General Hospital explained the causes and signs and symptoms of rheumatic fever in children.
He explained that rheumatic fever is caused by an immune reaction that occurs one to five weeks after a sore throat due to infection with Group A Streptococcus bacteria.
"So, the infection initially occurs in the throat, caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria . Then, our immune system finally recognizes it, and that's the cause of the inflammatory infection," he said during a discussion in Central Jakarta on Monday.
"So initially it was a throat infection, then something called rheumatic fever appeared," said the lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra.
According to him, rheumatic fever is generally characterized by a high fever that does not go away for more than 48 hours or two days and usually cannot be treated with ordinary fever medication.
If a child experiences such fever symptoms, doctors advise parents to immediately take the child to the doctor.
"Don't let it continue. Parents must take their child to the doctor. The doctor will then determine whether the cause is a virus or bacteria," said Dr. Rizky.
He said that rheumatic fever sufferers can experience other symptoms, including swollen joints.
If these symptoms are found, the doctor will carry out further examinations such as checking the heart and blood.
In addition to joint swelling, a circular red rash, a feeling of restlessness like dancing, as well as complaints of shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and fatigue can occur in children who experience rheumatic fever.