Question

Your patient, who had rheumatic fever as a child, may be at increased risk for ________ .

a. valvular stenosis
b. coronary artery disease (CAD)
c. pericarditis
d. atherosclerosis
e. heart attack

Answer 1

Rheumatic fever as a child can increase the risk of valvular stenosis, pericarditis, and heart attack.

Step-by-step explanation:

Rheumatic fever as a child can increase the risk of certain heart conditions later in life. One of these is valvular stenosis, which refers to the narrowing or tightening of heart valves. This can occur due to scarring and stiffness of the valve leaflets caused by the inflammation of the heart valves during rheumatic fever. Other potential risks include pericarditis, which is inflammation of the lining around the heart, and heart attack, which can occur if the coronary arteries become blocked or narrowed.