Early detection can prevent often fatal Rheumatic Fever!

Rheumatic Fever…could your child become affected?

South Africa has the 4th highest rate of deaths caused by rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and it also results in almost half a million deaths worldwide every year. Rheumatic Fever Week runs annually in the first week of August and focuses on educating parents and care-givers about rheumatic fever and how it leads to rheumatic heart disease (RHD).

Rheumatic Fever affects children from as young as 5 years old and develops after the child has had throat infections caused by a bacterium called ‘streptococcus’ (“strep throat”) which have gone untreated. Rheumatic Fever is a result of the body’s immune system becoming overactive in defence to the streptococcus, thereby leading to tissue damage in the body. Repeated bouts of rheumatic fever can lead to the development of RHD, a condition characterised by permanent damage to the heart valves.

Children who suffer from a sore throat, without a cough, runny nose or other cold and flu-like symptoms should immediately be taken to the doctor/clinic as they could have “strep throat”. Although there is no vaccine for “strep throat”, rheumatic fever can easily be prevented in children. If detected in its early stages, it can be treated by giving the child a penicillin injection. Early detection and treatment can spare costly medical bills and much anxiety and despair for parents.

Symptoms of rheumatic fever include:

• pain and swelling of joints
• skin rashes
• chest, muscle and abdominal pain
• small lumps under the skin
• vomiting, shaking and speech difficulties

RHD is the main cause of heart failure amongst children. Inefficient medical care for poorer people also plays a big role. If your child experiences any of the symptoms of “step throat”, seek medical attention immediately as it is very costly to treat RHD and in some cases it may be necessary to replace the damaged heart valves. Hospital waiting lists for heart valve replacement surgeries are long, thus many children die from the disease while awaiting surgery.

Professor Bongani Mayosi, Head of Department of Medicine at UCT and Cardiologist at Groote Schuur Hospital established a groundbreaking rheumatic fever and RHD awareness and prevention task team called the A.S.A.P (Awareness, Surveillance, Advocacy and Prevention) Programme which provides a mobile clinic and nursing service to the community. The mobile clinic is based in the Western Cape screening children at schools and raising awareness on rheumatic fever and RHD.

For more information on Rheumatic Fever and RHD and the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA health awareness activities, visit www.heartfoundation.co.za or contact one of our Registered Dieticians on the Heart Mark Diet Line at 0860 1 43278 (0860 1 HEART) for free nutritional advice.  A set of slides on the subject is available at: http://www.pitt.edu/~super1/lecture/lec37071/index.htm.

Click here for latest information released by the World Heart Federation.