Hospital GroupJohannesburg, South Africa
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Netcare Group provides innovative, quality healthcare in South Africa and the United Kingdom.
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At a glance
Key planning information for rheumatic heart disease treatment in South Africa.
4 hospitalsList rheumatic heart disease treatment
Rheumatic Heart Disease Treatment in South Africa is priced per case at 4 hospitals. Each hospital quotes its own price for your case.
Hospitals and clinics offering Rheumatic Heart Disease Treatment in South Africa
Rheumatic Heart Disease Treatment is listed by 4 hospitals in South Africa. The order reshuffles every hour so each gets equal exposure.
Hospital Group
Hospital GroupJohannesburg, South Africa
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Life Healthcare is a leading private hospital operator in South Africa and primarily serves the market for privately insured individuals, representing approximately eight million people. The group provides mainly acute care, high technology private hospital services.
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Private HospitalMthatha, South Africa
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Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital is a large Provincial government funded hospital situated in central Mthatha in South Africa. It is a tertiary teaching hospital and forms part of the Mthatha Hospital Complex.
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Private HospitalCape Town, South Africa
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The extensive hospital network includes 64 hospitals (of which 57 are majority owned by Life Healthcare and another seven in which the group holds substantial minority ownership), providing a range of healthcare services throughout South Africa.
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Description of Rheumatic Heart Disease Treatment:
What is rheumatic heart disease?
This is a devastating disease that stiffens and damages the heart’s valves due to inflammation. It disrupts the normal blood flow of the heart. The disease usually affects the left-sided heart valves. However, due to malfunction of the left-sided heart valves the right side valves are damaged indirectly.
Causes of rheumatic heart disease
Risk factors
Symptoms of rheumatic heart disease
Diagnosis
Prevention and treatment of rheumatic heart disease
- It is caused by a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Group A Streptococcus (GAS).When the body is exposed to the bacterium it generates antibodies to destroy the bacteria. However, the bacterial cell wall and heart tissue are similar in structure and the antibodies may attack the heart tissue as well as the bacteria.
- Rheumatic heart disease usually occurs after repeated heart valve damage due to repeated episodes of acute rheumatic fever which may sometimes be asymptomatic. In the early stages, it manifests in a leakiness of a left-sided valve which leaks blood from the lower ventricle to the upper atrium. The mitral valve can also narrow or constrict resulting in obstructed blood flow. The back pressure from this can cause leakiness of the right-sided valves and the right chambers may enlarge.
Risk factors
- Overcrowding
- Poor access to healthcare
- Inadequate hygiene
- Lack of awareness
Symptoms of rheumatic heart disease
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Ankle swelling
- Formation of blood clots
- Palpitations
- Stroke
- Dizziness
- Chest pain
Diagnosis
- If you experience the symptoms of rheumatic heart disease you should see your doctor.
- The doctor suspects that you have rheumatic heart disease he will need to identify abnormal heart murmurs. This is generated from the diseased heart valves and may be inaccurate in the early stages.
- Some of the procedures that can be carried out to diagnose rheumatic heart disease include balloon dilatation of the narrowed valve, open-heart valve surgery, and echocardiography.
- Echocardiography involves scanning of the heart using ultrasound. It helps to diagnose and identify the affected valves which are thick and distorted.
Prevention and treatment of rheumatic heart disease
- Primordial prevention: This focuses on better living conditions, access to medical care and proper hygiene.
- Primary prevention: This focuses on treating all GAS sore throat by penicillin to prevent he initial attack. Oral antibiotic may be administered for 10 days or single intramuscular injection.
- Secondary prevention: This focuses on administering penicillin after initial acute rheumatic fever attack to avoid re-infection which in turn prevents subsequent episodes.
- Surgery: This is required to replace or repair damaged heart valves.
About Rheumatic Heart Disease Treatment
Key facts to plan your treatment: how long it takes, your hospital stay, anaesthesia, risks and recovery.
Recovery
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Risks
Complications of rheumatic fever:
Mild rheumatic heart disease can usually be treated with medication, such as ACE inhibitors, which relax your arteries, making it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body.
-Atrial fibrillation: This is a heart condition that causes an abnormally fast and irregular heart rate. Treatment involves medication to control the heart rhythm and medication to prevent stroke.
-Heart failure: This leads to extensive damage to the heart to the point it cannot pump enough blood around the body. Treatment involves surgery to expand damaged valve with a balloon or to replace it with an artificial valve.
-Endocarditis prophylaxis: This is an infection of the heart valves. Antibiotics are given during surgery to prevent infection.
After care
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Patient reviews
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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