There is a big difference between rheumatism and rheumatoid. Firstly, rheumatism is a disease closely related to streptococcal infections, while rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease. Secondly rheumatic fever occurs in school-age children or adolescents, while rheumatoid arthritis occurs in middle-aged women. Rheumatoid arthritis is usually characterized by large joints, wandering redness, swelling, heat and pain, while rheumatoid arthritis is usually characterized by symmetrical polyarthritis. In addition rheumatic fever caused by arthritis after effective treatment, most of the joint function can be fully restored, without joint deformity or disability. Rheumatoid arthritis, in general, will eventually lead to disability or joint deformity. Finally, rheumatic fever is usually characterized by a marked increase in antistreptolysin O during the active phase of the disease, and the rheumatoid factor is negative. In rheumatoid arthritis, the anti-chain O is normal and the rheumatoid factor is mostly significantly elevated.