Modified Jones criteria were first published in 1944 by T. Duckett Jones, MD.^[3] They have been periodically revised by the American Heart Association in collaboration with other groups.^[4] According to revised Jones criteria, the diagnosis of rheumatic fever can be made when two of the major criteria, or one major criterion plus two minor criteria, are present along with evidence of streptococcal infection: elevated or rising antistreptolysin O titre or DNAase.^[1] Exceptions are chorea and indolent carditis, each of which by itself can indicate rheumatic fever.^[5][6][7]

Major criteria

• Polyarthritis: A temporary migrating inflammation of the large joints, usually starting in the legs and migrating upwards.
• Carditis: Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) which can manifest as congestive heart failure with shortness of breath, pericarditis with a rub, or a new heart murmur.
• Subcutaneous nodules: Painless, firm collections of collagen fibers over bones or tendons. They commonly appear on the back of the wrist, the outside elbow, and the front of the knees.
• Erythema marginatum: A long-lasting reddish rash that begins on the trunk or arms as macules, which spread outward and clear in the middle to form rings, which continue to spread and coalesce with other rings, ultimately taking on a snake-like appearance. This rash typically spares the face and is made worse with heat.
• Sydenham's chorea (St. Vitus' dance): A characteristic series of rapid movements without purpose of the face and arms. This can occur very late in the disease for at least three months from onset of infection.

Minor criteria

• Fever of 38.2–38.9 °C (101–102 °F)
• Arthralgia: Joint pain without swelling (Cannot be included if polyarthritis is present as a major symptom)
• Raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C reactive protein
• Leukocytosis
• ECG showing features of heart block, such as a prolonged PR interval^{[8] [9]} (Cannot be included if carditis is present as a major symptom)
• Previous episode of rheumatic fever or inactive heart disease

Other signs and symptoms

• Abdominal pain
• Nose bleeds
• Preceding streptococcal infection: recent scarlet fever, raised antistreptolysin O or other streptococcal antibody titre, or positive throat culture.^[9]