Acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease

NSW Health has developed a video to help GPs  recognise and manage acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD).

ARF/RHD predominantly affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

At-risk people can develop ARF/RHD following Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection.  

ARF and invasive GAS notifications have increased, particularly among children.

Consider ARF in young people presenting with compatible signs and symptoms, including fever, joint pain, chest discomfort, chorea and raised inflammatory markers. 

ARF/RHD and their sequelae are preventable. In at-risk patients, treat tonsillitis and impetigo empirically with antibiotics for GAS. Help end RHD in NSW.