Acute Rheumatic Fever Without Pharyngitis: A Case Report

An 18‐year‐old man presented with fatigue and polyarthralgia refractory to nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). He had no history of sore throat or other upper respiratory symptoms. Reactive arthritis was initially suspected. However, persistent symptoms, fever, polyarthritis, a cardiac murmur, atrioventricular block, and an elevated antistreptolysin O titer (739 IU/mL) suggested acute rheumatic fever. He met the revised Jones criteria for acute rheumatic fever. Treatment with amoxicillin and corticosteroids rapidly resolved his symptoms and electrocardiographic abnormalities.