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Scarlet fever, or rheumatic fever, is indirectly caused by Strepoccocus bacteria: more accurately, it is a case of hypersensitivity, where the immune system attacks its own body, most likely due to similar antigens.

In the case of rheumatic fever, it is attack on the heart. The immune system can successfully fight off Strepoccocus bacteria that cause strep throat. Unfortunately, Strepoccocus is a clever bacterium: its antigens are similar to that of a heart muscle's. After the bacterium has been defeated, the immune system mistakens its heart muscles' antigens for the bacterium's forigen look-alike. The immune system then attacks the heart, causing rheumatic fever.

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15y ago

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