Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 24, 2026
07:45
Severe Burn Injury in a Swine Model for Clinical Dressing Assessment
Published on: November 6, 2018
Summary
Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) in adults presents as severe joint pain and fever, often following a streptococcal infection. Prompt treatment with aspirin leads to rapid recovery, with mild, temporary effects on heart, kidney, and liver function.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is a significant concern, particularly in certain geographic areas.
- Understanding ARF presentation in adults is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and treatment response of acute rheumatic fever in an adult population.
- To delineate the typical course and outcomes of ARF in adults.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 53 adult patients diagnosed with ARF.
- Review of clinical symptoms, physical examinations, laboratory results (including erythrocyte sedimentation rate), and treatment outcomes.
- Assessment of cardiac, renal, and hepatic function during the illness.
Main Results:
- ARF in adults manifested as severe, febrile migratory polyarthritis, predominantly affecting lower extremity joints.
- Evidence of antecedent streptococcal infection was noted in all cases.
- Carditis was infrequent (15%) and mild/transient.
- Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (>100 mm/hr) was a characteristic laboratory finding.
- All patients responded dramatically to high-dose aspirin therapy.
- Mild, transient abnormalities in renal and hepatic function were observed in a majority of patients.
Conclusions:
- Adult ARF is primarily a joint-dominant syndrome with severe but transient arthritis.
- Cardiac, renal, and hepatic involvement is typically mild and transient in adults with ARF.
- ARF in adults is diagnosable and treatable, with a favorable prognosis when managed promptly.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Increased Body Temperature
A body temperature above 38°C (100.4 °F) is known as fever or pyrexia, and a person with fever is termed 'febrile.' Typically, the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that acts as the body's thermostat, regulates body temperature through a thermoregulatory setpoint. It receives signals from cold and warm thermal receptors throughout the body and adjusts the body's temperature accordingly. Fever occurs when this hypothalamic setpoint is altered, usually in response to an infection or illness.
01:22Burn Injuries
Burn injuries occur when the skin and underlying tissues are damaged due to exposure to heat, electricity, chemicals, radiation, or friction. They can vary in severity, from minor superficial burns to severe deep burns that can be life-threatening.
The damage results in the death of skin cells, which can lead to a massive loss of fluid. Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and renal and circulatory failure follow, which can be fatal. Burn patients are treated with intravenous fluids to offset...
The damage results in the death of skin cells, which can lead to a massive loss of fluid. Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and renal and circulatory failure follow, which can be fatal. Burn patients are treated with intravenous fluids to offset...
01:24Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications
Asthma, a common chronic respiratory condition, is classified considering the frequency and severity of symptoms alongside lung function impairment. Understanding this classification is essential for appropriate treatment and management. Here's a detailed look at the classification of asthma and its clinical features and complications:
Classification of Asthma
Classification of Asthma
01:26Acute Inflammation I: Inflammatory Response
Acute inflammation is a rapid, short-lived physiological response to tissue injury or infection, designed to eliminate harmful agents and initiate repair. This tightly regulated process typically lasts from minutes to several days and is triggered by factors such as microbial invasion, physical trauma, or chemical injury.Recognition and Mediator ReleaseThe inflammatory response begins when resident immune cells—such as mast cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells—detect damage-associated...
01:25Acute Inflammation III: Local and Systemic Effects
Acute inflammation produces a coordinated set of local and systemic changes that limit injury, eliminate pathogens, and initiate repair. These responses arise within minutes of infection, trauma, or chemical insult and are driven by vascular alterations and leukocyte-derived mediators. When the stimulus resolves, the reaction typically abates within days.Local EffectsAt the site of injury, arteriolar vasodilation increases blood flow, resulting in redness and warmth. Simultaneously, increased...
01:13Asthma III: Clinical Manifestations
Asthma presents with a characteristic pattern of episodic respiratory symptoms that reflect underlying airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and mucus hypersecretion. Although severity varies among individuals, certain clinical manifestations are considered hallmarks of the disorder and often guide diagnosis and assessment.Respiratory SymptomsA persistent cough is one of the most common early features of asthma. It is frequently dry and tends to worsen at night or in the early morning,...