How Do Doctors Diagnose Rheumatic Fever?

Doctors use the modified Jones criteria to help them diagnose rheumatic fever. Doctors diagnose children with rheumatic fever if they have had a streptococcal infection and 2 major criteria or 1 major criterion and 2 minor criteria:

1. Major criteria for rheumatic fever:

   • Inflammation of the heart (carditis)

   • Jerky, uncontrollable movements (Sydenham chorea)

   • Rash (erythema marginatum)

   • Redness, pain, and swelling (arthritis) in several joints

   • Bumps (nodules) under the skin

1. Minor criteria for rheumatic fever:

   • Pain in several joints (without redness or swelling)

   • Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C-reactive protein

   • Fever

   • Abnormal heart rhythms