Case Report: Concurrent Rheumatic Fever and Acute Post-Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis in a High-Burden Setting

Concomitant rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and acute rheumatic fever after streptococcus infection: a case report

Acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) and acute rheumatic fever (ARF) are common immune-mediated complications after group A streptococcus (GAS) infection. The causative antigenic epitopes on GAS are different for APSGN and ARF, and their simultaneous occurrence is uncommon. A 12-year-old boy presented with fever and gross haematuria. He had subcutaneous nodules on the dorsum of both feet along with a new holosystolic murmur at the apex, and he developed hypertension and generalised oedema after admission. Investigation confirmed the diagnosis of ARF with APSGN. He received a corticosteroid to control inflammation of both the conditions. His clinical signs gradually improved but he still had rheumatic heart disease. As both diseases can occur in the same patient, treatment should be provided for both conditions.Abbreviations: APSGN: acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis; ARF: acute rheumatic fever; ASO: antistreptolysin O; Cr: serum creatinine; CRP: C-reactive protein; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; GAS: group A streptococcus; RBC: red blood cells; RPGN: rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis; S1: first heart sound; S2: second heart sound; TTE: transthoracic echocardiogram.

Concomitant Acute Rheumatic Fever and Acute Post Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis

Acute rheumatic fever (RF) and acute post Streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) are non-suppurative complications of a Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection. The concomitant incidence of both complications in a patient is rare because nephritogenic and rheumatogenic strains belong to different serotypes of Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS). We present a case of a 47-year-old female who had concomitant acute RF and APSGN from a Streptococcus pyogenes infection. It is important to have a high clinical suspicion for the sequela of GABHS infection in the setting of cardiac and renal disease following upper respiratory infection (URI) symptoms even in adults and in geographic locations with the nearly undetectable burden of acute RF because of the importance of secondary prophylaxis with an antibiotic.

A Review of Streptococcus pyogenes: Public Health Risk Factors, Prevention and Control

Streptococcus pyogenes, (colloquially named “group A streptococcus” (GAS)), is a pathogen of public health significance, infecting 18.1 million people worldwide and resulting in 500,000 deaths each year. This review identified published articles on the risk factors and public health prevention and control strategies for mitigating GAS diseases. The pathogen causing GAS diseases is commonly transmitted via respiratory droplets, touching skin sores caused by GAS or through contact with contaminated material or equipment. Foodborne transmission is also possible, although there is need for further research to quantify this route of infection. It was found that GAS diseases are highly prevalent in developing countries, and among indigenous populations and low socioeconomic areas in developed countries. Children, the immunocompromised and the elderly are at the greatest risk of S. pyogenes infections and the associated sequelae, with transmission rates being higher in schools, kindergartens, hospitals and residential care homes. This was attributed to overcrowding and the higher level of social contact in these settings. Prevention and control measures should target the improvement of living conditions, and personal and hand hygiene. Adherence to infection prevention and control practices should be emphasized in high-risk settings. Resource distribution by governments, especially in developed countries, should also be considered.