Final answer:
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory condition caused by a cross-reaction between antibodies to bacterial proteins and similar proteins found in cardiac, neuronal, and synovial tissues. The Jones criteria, used to diagnose acute rheumatic fever, include major criteria such as arthralgia, carditis, and erythema marginatum.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory condition caused by a cross-reaction between antibodies to bacterial proteins and similar proteins found in cardiac, neuronal, and synovial tissues. The Jones criteria, used to diagnose acute rheumatic fever, include major criteria such as arthralgia, carditis, and erythema marginatum. Elevated C-reactive protein is not considered a major criterion, but it is an acute-phase protein that is produced as part of the inflammatory process.