Rheumatic heart disease

Rheumatic heart disease is a complication of rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever, which results from an untreated strep throat, can damage the heart valves, causing them to fail to close properly or not open enough. When a valve fails to close properly, it allows blood to leak backward. When a valve does not open enough, the heart must pump harder to force blood through the narrowed opening. When damage to the heart is permanent, the condition is called rheumatic heart disease. Rheumatic fever is an acute infectious disease that occurs primarily in children and young adults.