Rheumatic Fever - Causes

There is still some debate as to how rheumatic fever develops. The most popular theory is that the condition is caused by the body's own immune system. The immune system consists of organs, tissues, cells, and chemicals designed to attack foreign invaders, such as bacteria or viruses. One way the immune system protects the body is with antibodies. Antibodies are chemicals produced to fight off specific foreign agents. There is a specific type of antibody, for example, for every bacterium and virus that can invade the human body.

But the immune system sometimes makes mistakes and produces antibodies that attack the body's own cells. The antibodies kill cells and cause a type of disease known as an autoimmune ("against itself") disorder. Rheumatic fever is thought to be an autoimmune disorder (see autoimmune disorder entry).