ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL MEDICINES: ILLUMINATING DISPARITIES IN THE GLOBAL SUPPLY OF BENZATHINE PENICILLIN G IN THE CONTEXT OF RHEUMATIC FEVER/RHEUMATIC HEART DISEASE PREVENTION

Abstract

Rheumatic fever (RF) develops after up to 3% of untreated group A streptococcal (GAS) tonsillopharyngeal infections. Though it is rarely acutely fatal, 40–80% of RF cases develop carditis and 90% of these develop chronic rheumatic heart disease (RHD). In developing countries, RHD is responsible