I01: Rheumatic fever with heart involvement

I01.8: Other acute rheumatic heart disease

You have become infected some time ago with certain bacteria. You had a sore throat or tonsillitis caused by bacteria. Your immune system fought the bacteria using certain antibodies. However, these antibodies can also attack the body’s tissue.

Your heart has become inflamed as a result of this condition. The heart pumps blood through the body. In the process, the blood flows through blood vessels. The blood supplies all areas of the body with oxygen and nutrients.

When a cardiac muscle is inflamed, the heart may, for example, have an irregular beat or it may no longer pump enough blood through the body. This may result in missed heartbeats, chest pain, or shortness of breath.

Also common is a high temperature, joint pain, and feeling generally ill.