Rheumatism is a systemic inflammatory disease of connective tissue. The pathological process affects the membranes of the heart, periarticular tissues, nervous, less often other systems.
The factor provoking rheumatism in modern medicine is considered to be various diseases caused by group A streptococci. Genetic predisposition contributes to the development of rheumatism, and most often it arises after the transferred inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx (tonsillitis, tonsillitis, scarlet fever, etc.).
It is also believed that in the early stages of the disease the main role is played by the toxic effect of streptococcus. Later, a specific immune response arises: as a number of antigens to the cause of the disease also negatively affects the tissues (primarily, the heart tissue).
Common symptoms of rheumatism
Among them are:
- increase in body temperature (up to 39 ° C and above);
- weakness, sweating, increased fatigue, decreased appetite;
- headaches and nosebleeds are possible.
These symptoms are nonspecific, and they are typical for general intoxication of the body.
Symptoms of rheumatism of the heart
Rheumatism of the heart (rheumatic carditis) is an inflammatory process that primarily affects the myocardium, but also other tissues. It is the most dangerous of all forms of rheumatism, because it leads to serious cardiac pathologies. It is characterized by:
- dull, aching pains in the region of the heart, usually appearing on 3-4 days;
- tachycardia;
- lowering of blood pressure (insignificant);
- noises in the heart.
Symptoms of joint rheumatism
The joint form of rheumatism affects the connective tissues of the joints, with characteristic rheumatic changes. True rheumatism of the joints is often confused with rheumatoid arthritis, as the manifestations of the diseases are similar, although they are caused by different causes.
The main symptoms of rheumatism of limbs (arms, legs) are:
- primary lesion of large joints (knee, elbow, shoulder, ankle);
- dull, long pains in the limbs;
- edema;
- limitation of joint mobility;
- rapid manifestation and the same rapid disappearance of symptoms, with subsequent relapses.
Symptoms of rheumatism of the spine are:
- stiffness;
- Stretching pain in the lower back and in the sacrum;
- As the disease develops, a sharp limitation of mobility is possible.
Compared with the limbs, the spine rheumatism affects much less often. All the symptoms of rheumatism arise due to the defeat of the periarticular tissues and the ligamentous apparatus, and the bones remain unaffected. Rheumatic affections of the joints are benign: after the treatment the functions are completely restored, the deformation of the joint disappears.
Other forms of rheumatism and their symptoms
Skin Rheumatism
It manifests itself in the form of various rashes and small subcutaneous hemorrhages. For her most characteristic:
- annular erythema - pink ring-shaped rashes that do not protrude above the skin and are not accompanied by pain;
- nodal erythema - dark red seams of various sizes appearing above the skin, usually appearing on the legs;
- Rheumatic nodules are small subcutaneous seals that can manifest throughout the body.
Rheumatic fever
It is not so much a separate form of the disease as a complication, manifested in its background. It appears:
- shortness of breath;
- pains on the sternum, intensifying on inspiration;
- dry cough;
- in severe cases - the cessation of breathing on the affected side.
Other organs and systems rheumatism is infrequent. Sometimes it is possible to find a reference to muscular rheumatism, in which non-localized, migrating muscle pains and impaired mobility appear, but such symptoms are usually associated with lesions of the ligamentous apparatus and the nervous system. The very muscular tissue rheumatism affects very rarely.