1. What is rheumatic fever in children? Childhood rheumatic fever is an autoimmune disease that usually occurs in children aged 5 to 15 years and is primarily characterized by arthritis and generalized fever. It is caused by an infection with Streptococcus, but not by an infection caused directly by the bacteria, but by an abnormal immune response to the bacterial infection. 2. What are the symptoms of rheumatic fever in children? 1. Fever: High fever persists for a long time and may be accompanied by chills. 2. Joint swelling, redness, heat, and severe pain: joint swelling