Rheumatic fever prophylaxis: a three-year study.

An effective programme of secondary prophylaxis against rheumatic fever has been established in Barbados over the last three years. Relatively unsophisticated patients collaborated well over prolonged periods. Adequate secondary prophylaxis was achieved with monthly injections of benzathine penicillin, with a resultant decrease in the complication rate.A total of 84 admissions over 32 months from a population of some 60,000 children under the age of 12 emphasizes the need for registration and prophylactic treatment of children with rheumatic fever. The low yield in the survey of schoolchildren between the ages of 5 and 11 and the large number of personnel required for the survey suggest that it might be extended to include older age groups. Automatic screening devices should be used when possible so that more may be screened.