RT Book, Section A1 Jaggi, Preeti A1 Shulman, Stanford T. A2 Imboden, John B. A2 Hellmann, David B. A2 Stone, John H. SR Print(0) ID 57274634 T1 Chapter 52. Rheumatic Fever T2 CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Rheumatology, 3e YR 2013 FD 2013 PB The McGraw-Hill Companies PP New York, NY SN 978-0-07-163805-0 LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=57274634 RD 2023/01/28 AB Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is a systemic, immune-mediated disease that is triggered by pharyngeal infection with group A streptococci (GAS). Fever, migratory polyarthritis, and carditis are the most common clinical manifestations. ARF is most frequent among 5–15 year olds with a declining incidence in adults. It is extremely rare in children under age 3, prompting speculation that more than one GAS infection is needed before ARF can develop. ARF is not considered a sequela of cutaneous GAS infection.