Rheumatic Fever Public Information
A child’s untreated sore throat (‘strep throat’) can lead to rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is a serious preventable disease which may cause permanent heart damage.
You can look after your whanau by understanding what rheumatic fever is and taking sore throats seriously.
Signs and symptoms of rheumatic fever :
Often starts with a sore throat (a streptococcal infection) A few weeks later the following symptoms may develop:
- sore or swollen joints
- a skin rash
- a fever
- stomach pain
- jerky movements.
Although these symptoms may disappear, the heart valves may be permanently damaged – this is called Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD)
Rheumatic fever is common in the Bay of Plenty, where the annual incidence is nearly three times the New Zealand rate. Those most at risk of developing rheumatic fever are:
- children aged between 5 -15 years
- Maori and Pacific (90% of cases in the Bay of Plenty are Maori)
- people who share a house with lots of others
Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service is running an awareness campaign aimed at reducing the rates of rheumatic fever. The key messages are:
- rheumatic fever is preventable
- an untreated sore throat (‘strep throat’) can lead to rheumatic fever
- if a child complains of a sore throat make sure they are checked by a doctor
- if a ‘strep throat’ is diagnosed, the doctor will usually prescribe a 10 day course of antibiotics
- it is important to complete the whole 10 day course to prevent rheumatic fever from developing
By taking sore throats seriously, we can help prevent life long illness and suffering for our tamariki. Sore throats matter – get them checked!
For further information on rheumatic fever, click on the link below:
What is rheumatic fever?
Or contact Lindsay Lowe, Rheumatic Fever Co-ordinator (07) 577 3790 or email lindsay.lowe@bopdhb.govt.nz
