Diagnosis
A number of tests may be used to diagnose acquired heart disease. These include a history and physical examination, blood tests like electrolytes, protein (albumin), kidney tests, certain biomarkers that help in diagnosing heart failure, a chest X-ray, electrocardiogram (EKG): a noninvasive test that records the heart’s electrical activity, an echocardiogram: a noninvasive test that uses sound waves to create a moving picture of the heart and cardiac catheterization: a test that involves passing a thin flexible tube (catheter) through the groin and into the heart.
Treatment
The treatment for these conditions depends on the severity of the heart condition. If mild, the treatment may involve giving time for the inflammation to improve on its own over time. For some patients with severer symptoms, treatment options include medication and/or surgery.
Lifestyle modifications like reduced salt intake, exercise (safe for the degree of heart condition one is in), avoiding alcohol and drugs as a teenager, calorie restriction in excess weight teenagers and relieving and reducing stress to avoid unnecessary tension (stress is covered in a separate blog).
Medications are given to fight infection, improve blood flow, reduce the heart’s workload, decrease inflammation and prevent blood clots e.g. the use of erythromycin and Penicillin V for treatment and Penicillin G (benzathine) for prevention of RHD. The latter is given by intramuscular injection every 3-4 weeks over many years. Cardiac catheterization procedures may be needed to repair minor defects. Surgery is performed to repair major defects. A heart transplant replaces the heart when other measures are not feasible.
For countries where rheumatic heart disease is endemic, according to WHO, the main strategies for prevention, control and elimination include: improving standards of living; expanding access to appropriate care; ensuring a consistent supply of quality-assured antibiotics for primary and secondary prevention; and planning, developing and implementing feasible programmes for prevention and control of rheumatic heart disease, supported by adequate monitoring and surveillance, as an integrated component of national health systems responses.