RHEUMATIC FEVER: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Abstract

The objective of this article is to demonstrate how rheumatic fever is a disease of great relevance in society, due to the impacts it generates, its difficult diagnosis and the importance of its early identification for effective preventive action. The literature demonstrates the influence of social determinants in relation to malnutrition, living in crowded areas, poor sanitary conditions and lack of medical care. Furthermore, it was found that there is no specific diagnostic test, and the disease is diagnosed using the Jones criteria, a situation that makes the diagnosis highly challenging. Thus, based on the knowledge of the data presented in the article, it was observed the need to raise awareness among health professionals about the aforementioned aspects, in order to promote health strategies that combat the pathology in its entirety.