Strategy for controlling rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease, with emphasis on primary prevention: memorandum from a joint WHO/ISFC meeting.

This Memorandum summarizes the report of a meeting held in Geneva on 7-9 September 1994. Experts and representatives from different countries and regions, as well as WHO, the International Society and Federation of Cardiology, UNESCO, and the International Council of Nurses evaluated the experience in controlling rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease (RF/RHD) and provided an update on the essential components of RF/RHD prevention, including new areas for research in primary prevention. The meeting's recommendations should be applicable in all countries where RF/RHD is a health problem.