What Exactly Is Rheumatic Heart Disease?

What Exactly Is Rheumatic Heart Disease?

This information is for rangatahi (young people) with rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease. It's designed to help you and your whānau navigate the journey ahead after your diagnosis. 

Images from the rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease booklet produced by the Rheumatic Fever Project Team, Te Whatu Ora - Counties Manukau in conjunction with RHD Queensland Australia.

Rheumatic fever booklet cover and image of people

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What is rheumatic heart disease?

When rheumatic fever affects the heart, this is called rheumatic heart disease. Rheumatic heart disease is the damage to the valves that makes the heart weak.

The heart has 4 sections, which are like 'rooms' also called chambers. The heart valves are the 'doors' that stop the blood from flowing the wrong way. When the heart pumps, blood flows from one chamber to the next.

What happens if I have rheumatic heart disease?

If rheumatic fever has affected your heart, you may also be under the care of a cardiologist (heart doctor). They may ask you to have a heart scan (echocardiogram) regularly. This is so they can see how your valves are working. If your valve is very damaged, you may need surgery to repair or replace the valve. The cardiologist and healthcare team can give you more information if this is the case.

Illustration showing rheumatic heart disease

Unhealthy valves are sometimes referred to as 'leaky valves'. This means the blood is leaking between the chambers in the heart. It does not mean blood is leaking out of the heart into the body.

Other parts of the journey

My rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease journey introduction

Checklist - going home from hospital after my rheumatic fever

Taking care of my health after a diagnosis of rheumatic fever

What exactly is rheumatic fever?

My rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease journey in pictures

What exactly is rheumatic heart disease? (You are here)

How will my rheumatic fever be managed?

What other ways can I look after my health after rheumatic fever?

When can I return to doing the things I enjoy after rheumatic fever?

Will I need regular medical check-ups after rheumatic fever?

Looking after my mouth and gums after rheumatic fever

Wanting to plan to have a baby after rheumatic fever?

Acknowledgements

This information is adapted from the rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease booklet produced by the Rheumatic Fever Project Team, Te Whatu Ora - Counties Manukau, 2022.

Rheumatic heart disease illustration by Dr Greta File. Property of KidsHealth. 

This page last reviewed 13 October 2023.

Call Healthline on 0800 611 116 any time of the day or night for free health advice when you need it