poststreptokokkalinen

Poststreptokokkalinen refers to a set of non-suppurative (without pus formation) sequelae that can develop after a group A streptococcal infection. These conditions are not caused by the bacteria directly multiplying in the affected tissues, but rather by an abnormal immune response mounted by the body against the strep infection. The precise mechanisms are not fully understood but are believed to involve molecular mimicry, where antibodies produced to fight the streptococci mistakenly target host tissues that share similar antigens.

The most well-known poststreptokokkalinen conditions include acute rheumatic fever and acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. Acute rheumatic fever is a systemic inflammatory disease affecting the heart, joints, brain, and skin. It is characterized by inflammation of the heart valves, arthritis, involuntary movements (Sydenham's chorea), and skin rashes. Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis is an inflammation of the tiny filtering units in the kidneys, leading to decreased kidney function, swelling, and high blood pressure.

Other less common conditions have also been linked to prior streptococcal infections, though their causal relationship is less definitively established. Diagnosis of poststreptokokkalinen conditions typically relies on a history of a recent strep infection, clinical symptoms, and laboratory tests that may include elevated antistreptolysin O (ASO) titers or other streptococcal antibody tests. Treatment focuses on managing the symptoms and preventing recurrent infections, particularly in the case of rheumatic fever where long-term antibiotic prophylaxis is often necessary to prevent further cardiac damage.