风湿热是一种炎性疾患,系A族链球菌感染的后果。1/3～1/2的病例可发生心脏损害。风湿热可发生于任何年龄,但婴儿罕见,最多见于5～15岁。在流行性链球菌咽峡炎患者中,风湿热的发病率平均2～3％,而在散发和轻症病人中,发病率可能更低。影响发病率的两个重要因素是:(1)链球菌感染恢复过程中咽部带菌的时间;(2)对链球菌感染免疫反应的强弱。以往患过风湿热者,链球菌感染后发病率明显增高(10～50％)。 Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory condition that is a consequence of group A streptococcal infections. 1/3 ~ 1/2 cases of heart damage can occur. Rheumatic fever can occur at any age, but infants are rare, most often seen in 5 to 15 years of age. In patients with streptococcal angina, the incidence of rheumatic fever is on average 2-3%, while in sporadic and mild cases the incidence is likely to be lower. Two important factors affecting morbidity are: (1) the time of pharyngeal carriage during the recovery of streptococcal infection; and (2) the strength of the immune response to streptococcal infection. In the past who had rheumatic fever, the incidence of streptococcal infection was significantly increased (10 ~ 50%).