Rheumatic fever is a major cause of valvular heart disease that begins with a case of strep throat or scarlet fever. If left untreated, the bacteria attack the heart, causing irreparable damage to the valves and the heart itself. It mainly affects children between the ages of 6 and 15.

You must always pay attention to a sore throat in a child or grandchild. A severe sore throat — even without any other cold symptoms — and a fever higher than 101 degrees should be treated immediately with antibiotics. Likewise, you should treat a milder sore throat that lasts more than a couple of days.

Always treat an outbreak of strep promptly to avoid the possibility of developing valvular heart disease.