The initial attack of acute rheumatic fever is preceded by:

The initial attack of acute rheumatic fever is preceded by:

• A. Group A streptococcal infection
• B. A viral illness
• C. Exposure to mites
• D. Exposure to chicken pox

Answer: (A)

Acute rheumatic fever is a delayed autoimmune reaction that follows an infection with group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, most often a throat (pharyngeal) infection. After the streptococcal pharyngitis, antibodies against the bacteria can cross-react with human tissues in the heart, joints, and nervous system, causing the inflammatory symptoms of ARF. There’s typically a latent period of about 1–5 weeks between the streptococcal infection and onset of ARF, which is why the initial event is the GAS pharyngitis rather than a viral illness, mite exposure, or chickenpox. While GAS skin infections can occasionally precede ARF, the classic antecedent is pharyngitis due to group A Streptococcus.

Acute rheumatic fever is a delayed autoimmune reaction that follows an infection with group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, most often a throat (pharyngeal) infection. After the streptococcal pharyngitis, antibodies against the bacteria can cross-react with human tissues in the heart, joints, and nervous system, causing the inflammatory symptoms of ARF. There’s typically a latent period of about 1–5 weeks between the streptococcal infection and onset of ARF, which is why the initial event is the GAS pharyngitis rather than a viral illness, mite exposure, or chickenpox. While GAS skin infections can occasionally precede ARF, the classic antecedent is pharyngitis due to group A Streptococcus.