Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic fever in China

Abstract

Rheumatic fever is an autoimmune disease characterized by recurring acute or chronic systemic connective tissue inflammation caused by group A streptococcal infection in the throat. Although rheumatic fever is common in China, there is a lack of standardized criteria for the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. Based on evidence and guidelines from China and other countries, the Chinese Rheumatology Association developed standardized criteria for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease in China. The aim was to standardize rheumatic fever diagnosis methods, treatment opportunities, and strategies for both short-and long-term treatment, so as to reduce irreversible damage and improve prognosis.