Rheumatic Fever

The term "rheumatic" refers to synovial joints of the body ("rheum" refers to viscous fluid, such as synovial fluid), hence "rheumatic fever" connotes an illness associated with abnormalities of synovial joints. Synovial is a

clear fluid that helps in lubrication of a joint. Any joint in the body which produces this fluid is known as a synovial joint. When a common strain of bacteria known as "Strep," or Streptococcus pyogenes, living in your throat and nose for months without causing any harm becomes active, they produce an infection - sore throat initially and then certain disease conditions including the inflammation and swelling of joints. This is called as rheumatic fever.