If you have Rheumatic Fever as a child, are you more susceptible to getting Arthritis or Arthritis-like conditions as you age?

In 1946 at 9yo,I contracted Rheumatic fever. in the days of not much in the way of antibiotics . Penecillin was scarce, because of being depleted by war injuries overseas. The dose I had was a mere 5000U t.i.d. . A mere drop in the bucket compared with todays dosage.. Every joint in my body was affected with swelling redness and Pain. Immediately, I was put to bed to "save the heart" I stayed in bed from October to April..never setting foot on the floor!!!! I recovered, and at 17 had a reoccurence . I was in bed for 6-weeks and recovered. I am now 74 and all doctors I have had in my life state there are no signs of any coronary/valve disease. I have some arthritis in my R.thumb..becoming worse. I like to knit and cross-stitch, so this is not a good mix. (Both bouts of RF were predisposed by Strep-throat.