STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine the prevalence of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease and to initiate a programme of secondary prophylaxis in Sahafa Town, Sudan. DESIGN: The study was a prospective case finding survey, carried out by a specially trained team headed by a cardiologist. SETTING: The study involved high risk school children (5-15 years of age) from Sahafa Town in the period 1986-1989. SUBJECTS: A total of 13,332 children on the school registers (7892 boys and 5430 girls) were examined generally and specifically for evidence of rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease. MAIN RESULTS: Out of the 13,322 children screened 351 were suspected cases and 146 were confirmed cases of rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease. The prevalence rates for all ages were 10/1000 for boys and 14/1000 for girls. The overall prevalence rate of the whole programme area was 11/1000, prevalence of rheumatic fever was 8/1000, and prevalence of rheumatic heart disease was 3/1000. The prevalence rate was significantly increased among the inner town inhabitants (15/1000) compared to the outer town inhabitants 4/1000 (p < 0.001). Monthly prophylactic benzathine penicillin in a dose of 1,200,000 IU was given to both suspected and confirmed cases. Penicillin coverage rate was 72%. CONCLUSIONS: Rheumatic fever continues to be a serious health problem. With economic pressures causing impending change in socioeconomic conditions in most Third World countries in the immediate future, rheumatic fever will continue to have a high prevalence rate and rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease prevention programmes will remain a central goal.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine the prevalence of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease and to initiate a programme of secondary prophylaxis in Sahafa Town, Sudan. DESIGN: The study was a prospective case finding survey, carried out by a specially trained team headed by a cardiologist. SETTING: The study involved high risk school children (5-15 years of age) from Sahafa Town in the period 1986-1989. SUBJECTS: A total of 13,332 children on the school registers (7892 boys and 5430 girls) were examined generally and specifically for evidence of rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease. MAIN RESULTS: Out of the 13,322 children screened 351 were suspected cases and 146 were confirmed cases of rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease. The prevalence rates for all ages were 10/1000 for boys and 14/1000 for girls. The overall prevalence rate of the whole programme area was 11/1000, prevalence of rheumatic fever was 8/1000, and prevalence of rheumatic heart disease was 3/1000. The prevalence rate was significantly increased among the inner town inhabitants (15/1000) compared to the outer town inhabitants 4/1000 (p < 0.001). Monthly prophylactic benzathine penicillin in a dose of 1,200,000 IU was given to both suspected and confirmed cases. Penicillin coverage rate was 72%. CONCLUSIONS:Rheumatic fever continues to be a serious health problem. With economic pressures causing impending change in socioeconomic conditions in most Third World countries in the immediate future, rheumatic fever will continue to have a high prevalence rate and rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease prevention programmes will remain a central goal.
Authors: M J McLaren; D M Hawkins; H J Koornhof; K R Bloom; D M Bramwell-Jones; E Cohen; G E Gale; K Kanarek; A S Lachman; J B Lakier; W A Pocock; J B Barlow Journal: Br Med J Date: 1975-08-23
Authors: R A Miller; J Stamler; J M Smith; W S Milne; M H Paul; I Abrams; A R Hastreiter; R M Restivo; L DeBoer Journal: Circulation Date: 1965-12 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: O Ogunbi; H O Fadahunsi; I Ahmed; A Animashaun; S O Daniel; D U Onuoha; L Q Ogunbi Journal: J Epidemiol Community Health Date: 1978-03 Impact factor: 3.710
Authors: Emmy Okello; Barbara Kakande; Elias Sebatta; James Kayima; Monica Kuteesa; Boniface Mutatina; Wilson Nyakoojo; Peter Lwabi; Charles K Mondo; Richard Odoi-Adome; Freers Juergen Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-08-27 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Emmy Okello; Zhang Wanzhu; Charles Musoke; Aliku Twalib; Barbara Kakande; Peter Lwabi; Nyakoojo B Wilson; Charles K Mondo; R Odoi-Adome; Juergen Freers Journal: Cardiovasc J Afr Date: 2013-04 Impact factor: 1.167