Rheumatic fever
Modified Jones criteria :
Major criteria
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Polyarthritis: A temporary migrating inflammation of the large joints, usually starting in the legs and migrating upwards.
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Carditis: Inflammation of the heart muscle which can manifest
as congestive heart
failure with shortness of
breath, pericarditis with a rub, or a new heart murmur.
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Subcutaneous nodules: Painless, firm
collections of collagen fibers over bones or tendons. They commonly appear on the back of the wrist, the
outside elbow, and the front of the knees.
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Erythema marginatum: A
long lasting rash that begins on the trunk
or arms as macules and spreads outward to form a snake like ring while clearing in the middle.
This rash never starts on the face and it is made worse with heat.
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Sydenham's chorea (St. Vitus' dance): A characteristic series of rapid movements without
purpose of the face and arms. This can occur very late in the disease for at
least three months from onset of infection.
