Acute Rheumatic Fever Presenting as a Mimicker of Septic Arthritis

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) describes the non-suppurative and autoimmune inflammation of joint, muscle, and fibrous tissue that occurs after group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis. This report describes a rare case of a 39-year-old male with migratory arthralgias as a presenting sign of ARF. Through this case, we review the current literature on ARF and highlight clinical and objective findings that differentiate ARF from similar presenting arthralgias, specifically post-streptococcal reactive arthritis (PSRA). With this report, we hope to increase clinical suspicion for ARF in patients with acute joint pain, as differentiating ARF from other arthritides, PSRA specifically, determines management strategy and need for secondary prophylaxis against rheumatic heart disease.