Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory autoimmune disease where antibodies to Strepotococcus attack the body's connective tissues in the major joints and the heart. It is a common secondary complication to strep throat or scarlet fever. Once very common, it has become much rarer since the advent of antibiotics. However, patients usually require lifelong prophylactic treatment as a second staphylococcus infection will usually result in death. It has been an occasional differential diagnosis on the series. Rheumatic fever is a common cause of damage to heart valves.