An old disease re-emerging: Acute rheumatic fever

Abstract

We present the case of a 41-year-old Australian woman with a 3-day history of fevers and migratory polyarthritis. Three weeks prior she had been treated by her GP with phenoxymethylpenicillin for acute tonsillitis. Examination confirmed synovitis. Systemic assessment including cardiovascular, neurological and skin examination was unremarkable. Abnormal investigations included a leucocytosis with neutrophilia, C-reactive peptide of 116 mg/L, erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 103 mm/hour and acute transaminitis. The antistreptolysin O titre was 304 IU, which increased to 1,250 IU after 2 weeks. Troponin T, electrocardiogram and echocardiography were all normal. The patient was treated for acute rheumatic fever with corticosteroids and a 10-day course of cephalexin. After 8 weeks, she made a full recovery and had normalized infl ammatory markers and liver biochemistry. She was then commenced on monthly prophylactic intramuscular benzathine penicillin. This case study aims to raise awareness of the presentation, diagnosis and management of acute rheumatic fever.