Rheumatic Heart Disease

Rheumatic Heart Disease is a disease where it can damage the heart valves, such as leaks or strictures, particularly mitral valve (mitral stenosis) caused by rheumatic fever. This disease is very dangerous because it caused the valves of the heart valve in the course of the disease process that begins with a throat injury.

Symptoms of Rheumatic Heart Disease :

• Joint inflammation : including swelling, tenderness, and redness over multiple joints. The joints affected are usually the larger joints in the knees or ankles. The inflammation "moves" from one joint to another over several days.
• Small nodules or hard, round bumps under the skin.
• A change in your child's neuromuscular movements (this is usually noted by a change in your child's handwriting and may also include jerky movements).
• Rash (a pink rash with odd edges that is usually seen on the trunk of the body or arms and legs).
• Fever.
• Weight loss.
• Fatigue.
• Stomach pains.

The symptoms may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.

Diagnosis of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD)

Besides the presence of signs and symptoms that appear directly on the physical, the doctor will usually perform some lab tests that indicate, for example, routine blood tests, Asto, CRP and throat culture. The most accurate survey is echocardiography do to see the status of valves and heart muscle

Treatment of RHD

The best treatment for rheumatic heart disease is prevention. Antibiotics can usually treat strep throat (a Streptococcus bacterial infection) and stop acute from developing. Antibiotic therapy has sharply reduced the incidence and mortality rate of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.

Prevention of Rheumatic Heart Disease

There is no guaranteed way to prevent such problems, but still, you can do plenty of things to substantially reduce the chance of such bacterial infection and the subsequent rheumatic complications. For example, Personal hygiene can play a very important role in this regard. The basic idea is to eliminate the chance of getting affected with a strep throat. Besides that, if strep throat still occurs, you must seek immediate medical help from experts. Any delay in treatment can be very dangerous for your heart health.

Complications Rheumatic Heart Disease

The list of complications that have been mentioned in various sources for Rheumatic heart disease includes:

• Endocarditic is inflammation of the inner lining of the heart.
• Bacterial endocarditic is the infection and inflammation of the inner layers of the heart, most commonly the valves cause by bacteria.
• Heart failure a syndrome classified by myocardial malfunction, heart failure can lead to deficient pump performance reduced cardiac output and to frank heart failure and abnormal circulatory congestion. Congestion of systemic venous flow may end up in tangential edema and hepatomegaly; congestion of pulmonary circulation may cause pulmonary edema, an acute, life-threatening emergency.

Nursing Diagnosis for Rheumatic Heart Disease

1. Risk for Decreased Cardiac Output

2. Hyperthermia

3. Imbalanced Nutrition, Less Than Body Requirements

4. Acute Pain

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Nursing Diagnosis for Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is a common eye disease that may be caused by excessive eye strain or infections due virus or bacteria. Conjunctivitis or pink eye is one of those conditions that effect children, adults and animals. It can be highly contagious and some people, particularly children, seem to suffer repeat bouts of it.

Conjunctivitis is a highly contagious disease and it is treatable. The human body itself takes measures to cure the pink eyes. Since the soreness causes pain, many home treatments are suggested and they also found to be very effective.

Types of Conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis is often caused by dust mites, pollen and cosmetics and is common in people who have hay fever, asthma and eczema. It can cause mild to severe itching and often makes the eyes red and sore. If it's seasonal conjunctivitis it may just last a few weeks, however, allergic conjunctivitis may be consistent if you live around animals or are allergic to house dust. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you're worried about this condition and take antihistamines as prescribed.

Viral conjunctivitis

Viral conjunctivitis usually occurs after a cold or a sore throat and it is highly contagious.

It causes a watery discharge to leak from the eye and can spread easily from one eye to the other. It can turn the eye pink and might can also cause itching if it becomes particularly nasty. Viral conjunctivitis usually clears up by itself; however, ocular lubricants and painkillers can ease the symptoms. If you've got this disease it's essential that you always wash your hands thoroughly and to remove discharge using a clean cotton bud.

Bacterial conjunctivitis

Bacterial conjunctivitis is caused by bacteria such as staphylococci, streptococci or haemophilus and is a particularly nasty form of the condition. It causes the eyes to feel gritty, inflamed and sore and a yellow, sticky discharge may form sticking the eyes together overnight. Bacterial conjunctivitis usually lasts a week, but antibiotic drugs can help. Like viral conjunctivitis, it's highly contagious, so always maintain a high level of hygiene if you're infected and visit your optometrist if you have any concerns.

Symptoms of Conjunctivitis

The pink eye effect is one of the first signs of conjunctivitis. The sufferer may complain of dry or itchy eyes and, particularly children, will tend to rub them a lot. There can also be a discharge from the eye - this can range from a clear watery look to yellow or green. The color is often an indication of what type of conjunctivitis the person is suffering from. In severe cases, the eyes may be glued shut on waking. This is caused by the discharge weeping out from between the eyelids during sleep, then drying on the eyelashes, effectively gluing them together.


Nursing Diagnosis for Conjunctivitis

1. Acute Pain

related to inflammation of the conjunctiva

characterized by:
Clients say the discomfort (pain) is felt
The face looks the pain (pain expression).

2. Anxiety

related to lack of knowledge about the disease process

characterized by:
Clients say about anxiety.
Clients look anxious and nervous.

3. Self-concept disturbance

related to a change in the eyelid (swelling / edema).

4. Risk for injury

related to the limits of vision.

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