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    Jones Criteria for Acute Rheumatic Fever Diagnosis

    Diagnoses acute rheumatic fever based on major and minor criteria.

    IMPORTANT

    Note: As of 2015, the Jones Criteria have been updated to include the use of doppler echocardiography. See AHA's update.

    When to Use
    Pearls/Pitfalls
    Why Use
    • Use in the diagnosis of suspected acute rheumatic fever (ARF).

    • Diagnosis of ARF is a clinical diagnosis based on these standard diagnostic criteria.

    • Do not use to measure rheumatic activity, establish the diagnosis of inactive or chronic rheumatic heart disease, or to predict the course or severity of the disease.

    • An initial presentation of possible ARF should not be diagnosed based on minor criteria alone.

    • Other illnesses may mimic ARF. Laboratory evidence of an antecedent group A streptococcal (GAS) infection (i.e., streptococcal antibody titers, positive throat culture or rapid Strep test) is mandatory to establish the diagnosis.

    • Only GAS infections of the upper respiratory tract lead to ARF; GAS skin infections do not lead to ARF.

    • A 2015 revision made modifications to the criteria, most notably providing two separate diagnostic pathways for those at low risk and those at moderate/high risk, and adding subclinical carditis as a major criterion. However, the 1992 (original) version remains popular in clinical use.

    • Children less than 3 years of age are unlikely to develop an autoimmune response that leads to ARF. Even with laboratory evidence of GAS infection, consider other diagnoses first. Expert consultation with pediatric infectious disease, cardiology, and/or rheumatology may be helpful.

    • Myocarditis without valvulitis (without new murmur or echo evidence suggestive of RHD) is unlikely to be rheumatic in origin.

    • To establish a diagnosis of initial or recurrent acute rheumatic fever. 

    • Failing to meet the criteria suggests that another diagnosis is more likely.

    • Adherence to the Jones Criteria will help prevent over-diagnosis and the long-term sequelae of over-diagnosis such as prophylactic antibiotic use, patient/family stress, and insurance concerns.

    Evidence of preceding GAS infection (≥1 of the following)

    Diagnostic Result:

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    Next Steps
    Evidence
    Creator Insights
    Dr. T. Duckett Jones

    About the Creator

    Thomas Duckett Jones, MD, (d. 1954) was the director of research in rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease at the House of the Good Samaritan in Boston for 20 years. He worked clinically at Massachusetts General Hospital and was on faculty at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Jones was appointed to the inaugural National Advisory Heart Council and also served as vice-president of the American Heart Association, chairman of the AHA's Council on Rheumatic Fever, and president-elect of the National Health Council.

    To view Dr. T. Duckett Jones's publications, visit PubMed

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    Dr. T. Duckett Jones
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