Rheumatic Fever Week, 1 - 5 August 2011
Thabo Funani*, a 38-year-old teacher from the Eastern Cape, became concerned when his 12-year-old son, Matthew, complained he had a sore throat. Thabo had read that a sore throat caused by the Streptococcus bacterium could be dangerous for children as it can cause rheumatic fever, which in turn can damage the heart.
Thabo's doctor confirmed that Thabo had done the right thing by seeking medical attention for Matthew. He explained that many people in South Africa do not go to a doctor if they have a sore throat because they do not know that it can be a serious medical condition if it is left untreated. The doctor prescribed antibiotics for Matthew and advised Thabo to bring the boy back immediately if he ever developed such an infection again.
As part of the Government Employees Medical Scheme's (GEMS) ongoing effort to educate our members and future members on a range of healthcare topics, we would like to share real life member stories with you and explore certain important healthcare issues. This article looks at the subject of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.
Every year rheumatic heart disease causes about 400 000 deaths worldwide. It is a serious medical condition claiming more than 1 600 lives a year in South Africa. In fact it is likely that even more people die from rheumatic heart disease than this figure suggests, as many cases in this country are not diagnosed or reported. Tragically, the disease affects mostly children and those between the ages of five and 15 years are most vulnerable.
Rheumatic fever can develop after an individual catches a Streptococcus infection, or ‘strep throat' as it is often known, and fails to treat it. Rheumatic fever may cause rheumatic heart disease, which is a complication that damages various parts of the heart including the muscle and lining. Rheumatic heart disease also causes damage to the heart valves, which are no longer able to open and shut properly, interfering with the blood flow through the heart. If damaged valves are not treated they will continue to deteriorate and the heart could go on to fail.
Rheumatic heart disease is most common among the world's more undeveloped communities. Part of the reason for this is that throat infections such as strep throat can be more easily passed from person to person in crowded homes and schools. In addition, many under privileged people, especially those living in rural areas, do not have doctors and hospitals close by. They therefore tend to ignore ailments such as sore throats, which do not seem like very serious illnesses. The problem is that rheumatic fever becomes increasingly dangerous over time and can go on to cause critical damage to the heart if it is left untreated.
The good news is that early treatment of strep throat can prevent an individual from going on to develop rheumatic fever. A child who has a sore throat with or without a fever should therefore be taken to a medical facility as soon as possible. Strep throat is usually easily treated with antibiotics and other medications prescribed by your doctor.
Rheumatic fever is more difficult to treat but, here too, the sooner it can be treated the better. Early treatment of rheumatic fever can in turn help prevent it from developing into rheumatic heart disease, a potentially fatal complication.
The symptoms of rheumatic fever may start anytime between one to five weeks after a child has been infected with the strep throat bacteria. Symptoms may vary greatly from person to person but the following are some that are commonly experienced and should be watched for:
Treatment of rheumatic fever depends upon how far the illness has progressed and on how healthy the patient is. It may involve the patient having to take antibiotics daily or monthly until they are 21 years of age or even for the rest of their lives. Patients with advanced rheumatic heart disease will at some point need to have their heart valves surgically repaired or replaced with artificial valves.
Heart repair and replacement procedures are very costly and not everyone is able to easily access the medical expertise necessary to have them done. It therefore makes great sense to prevent this disease rather than attempt to treat it. This certainly is the approach of government, which has put programmes in place to educate and inform parents, healthcare workers and teachers about rheumatic fever and the importance of the early treatment. It also urges the aggressive treatment of strep throat and rheumatic fever. In these ways it plans to reduce infection rates and the numbers of South Africans who develop rheumatic heart disease.
Parents whose children complain of a sore throat or who display any of the symptoms highlighted above should be sure to seek medical attention as soon as possible. It is much better to be safe than sorry when it comes to a dangerous medical condition such as rheumatic fever.
If you would like to know how GEMS can assist you to obtain more information about any of your healthcare needs, you can contact the GEMS call centre on 0860 00 4367 or send a SMS to 083 450 4367. GEMS will assist you in every way possible to ensure your family's health and well-being.
Sources:
1. ‘Rheumatic heart disease', Children's Hospital Wisconsin, www.chw.org/display/ppf/docid/23071/router.asp.
2. ‘Rheumatic heart disease', Better Health Channel, www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/rheumatic_heart_disease.
3. ‘Rheumatic heart disease', Nursing and Medicine, www.nurse-ocha.com/2008/08/rheumatic-heart-disease.html.
4. ‘Rheumatic heart disease', Health24, www.health24.com/child/child_health/833-847,28882.asp.
*The member's name has been changed in order to protect his identity.
0860 00 4367 (Call Centre) [email protected] More Contacts >