Rheumatic Fever: Drug Therapy

Therapeutic target

Elimination of streptococcal infection.

Therapy recommendations

  • Antibiosis (antibiotic therapy:oral penicillins, at least 10 days).
  • Anti-inflammatory (anti-inflammatory) therapy (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): therapy duration 4 to 6 weeks); if necessary, also analgesics / painkillers (according to the WHO scheme for pain therapy; see below “Chronic pain“) in case of pronounced pain symptoms.
  • Relapse prophylaxis (averting the recurrence of the disease) with penicillin V (2 x 250 mg/day, every 4 weeks) or macrolide (in case of penicillin allergy)!
    • Until the age of 25, regular application of depot penicillin.
    • From the age of 25 years only before diagnostic and therapeutic procedures

    Note: Recurrences (recurrence) occur most often in the first two years after initial manifestation (initial disease).

  • See also under “Further therapy“.