Rheumatic Fever Research Paper

Rheumatic fever is one of autoimmune diseases which cause a type of bacteria called group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus that leads to an inflammation in the connective tissues like brain, heart and joints. The disease seems to be linked to scarlet fever which is also involved in sore throat infection. Rheumatic fever and scarlet fever can be treated with penicillin injection to kill the bacteria while Azithromycin can be given for those who are allergic to penicillin.

Scientists have been trying many trials to stop the bacterial infection in the regions which have the highest rates of the disease. Amongst them; the professor, Michael Good who developed a vaccine cooperating with some scientists. It is believed that it would prevent an infection with the bacterium, Streptococcus A and stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies which eliminate the bacteria. Although studies in Australia and New Zealand have declared that the vaccine has an effective immune response in mice and it causes no damage to the heart but the scientists and the Australian professor still have been working on it to make sure it is safe and has no side effects as much as possible. …show more content…
Researchers have shown that autoimmune response is supposed to be the reason why they have seen the rheumatic fever in their vaccine experiments. Now they believe if they can isolate those antigens, they may be able to fight the