Rheumatic Fever
How is the disease diagnosed?
Diagnosis of rheumatic fever starts with a medical history and physical
examination. The healthcare provider may also order diagnostic tests. These may
include the following:
a throat culture
an antibody titer
an echocardiogram, or
ultrasound of the heart
a chest X-ray
The American Heart Association has issued guidelines for
the diagnosis of rheumatic fever. Known as the Jones criteria, these guidelines
include lab test findings as well as signs and symptoms of the
disease.
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