[Therapy of rheumatic fever].

After making the diagnosis the rheumatic fever as a secondary disease after streptococcal infection is immediately to be treated with penicillin G. Parallel to this or overlapping the rheumatic inflammatory mesenchymal tissue reactions are treated with prednisolone or derivatives, aminophenazone or salicylic acid preparations, in which cases in children prednisolone and aminophenazone are preferred. The combat against the streptococcal infection by means of penicillin transgresses into a recidivation prophylaxis with benzathin-penicillin, which is to be performed up to an age of 5 years. Substitutes for the recidivation treatment with benzathin-penicillin are V-tablopen or erythromycin, perhaps also sulfaclomide. The treatment is to be performed in a hospital up to the time that the patient is free from signs of inflammation and at least 4 weeks without fever, then a gradual rehabilitation begins.