Primary Prevention Of Acute Rheumatic Fever Research Articles

Effectiveness of awareness raising interventions on knowledge about Rheumatic Heart Disease and change in care seeking behavior for throat infection in Lalitpur, Nepal

Background and Aims: Awareness raising is an important component of primary prevention of RHD. Data are lacking on primary prevention activities for rheumatic heart disease (RHD) prevention in Nepal. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of various awareness raising activities on increasing knowledge about throat infection (TI), acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and RHD and their impact on RHD prevention.
 Methods: Fourteen randomly selected government health facilities in Lalitpur were enrolled in this study. A baseline study conducted in early 2015 analyzed the level of knowledge about RHD among care seekers attending health facilities in Lalitpur. An expansive public awareness raising activities on RHD were performed for 2.5 years starting from February 2015. Data were collected using structured interviews, and review of health facility records. Data were analyzed to compare the postintervention status with the baseline status.
 Results: The mean knowledge about ARF and RHD increased by over 71% (1.82 to 3.12) and 124% (0.37 to 0.83) respectively in post intervention group. There was significant difference in knowledge about TI, ARF and RHD among baseline and post intervention group (p-value<0.0001). The number of throat infection cases presented at health facilities increased by 30.39% from fiscal year (FY) 2071/72 to FY 2072/073 and by 4.69% in the next FY. 
 Conclusions: Awareness raising interventions are effective in increasing knowledge about TI, ARF and RHD which further can produce positive impact in the primary prevention of ARF and RHD.

PREVENTION OF ACUTE RHEUMATIC FEVER: CURRENT ASPECTS

The program for the prevention of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and recurrent attacks of the disease includes primary and secondary prevention. The basis for the primary prevention of ARF are activities aimed at increasing the level of the body’s innate immunity and adaptive responses to adverse environmental conditions, as well as the timely diagnosis and adequate antimicrobial therapy of group A streptococcus throat infections, such as sore throat and pharyngitis. Secondary prevention aims to prevent recurrent attacks and disease progression in individuals who have experienced ARF and provides regular twenty-four-hour administration of long-acting penicillin (benzathine benzylpenicillin)

Streptococcal pharyngitis in a college health population.

Abstract This study of a college population showed that group A streptococcal pharyngitis accounted for 0.6%–2.5% of total visits to the student health service for the academic years 1977–78, 1978–79, and 1979–80. Streptococcal pharyngitis accounted for 4.0%–13.6% of all throat cultures performed. The prevalence of reported acute rheumatic fever (ARF) in this population was virtually nonexistent. Review of medical records for 346 cases of streptococcal pharyngitis for academic year 1979–80 revealed that 253 (73%) were treated with oral penicillin V potassium. Nine (4.8%) repeat positive cultures occurred in 188 persons presenting for reculture after completing their course of therapy. All of the repeat positive cases had been treated with oral antibiotics, and almost all responded to a second course of oral treatment. It appeared that oral penicillin was adequate as primary prevention of ARF in this population. Despite pitfalls of the bacitracin disc method, results of negative cultures prevented unnecess...

Streptococcal Pharyngitis in a College Health Population

Abstract This study of a college population showed that group A streptococcal pharyngitis accounted for 0.6%–2.5% of total visits to the student health service for the academic years 1977–78, 1978–79, and 1979–80. Streptococcal pharyngitis accounted for 4.0%–13.6% of all throat cultures performed. The prevalence of reported acute rheumatic fever (ARF) in this population was virtually nonexistent. Review of medical records for 346 cases of streptococcal pharyngitis for academic year 1979–80 revealed that 253 (73%) were treated with oral penicillin V potassium. Nine (4.8%) repeat positive cultures occurred in 188 persons presenting for reculture after completing their course of therapy. All of the repeat positive cases had been treated with oral antibiotics, and almost all responded to a second course of oral treatment. It appeared that oral penicillin was adequate as primary prevention of ARF in this population. Despite pitfalls of the bacitracin disc method, results of negative cultures prevented unnecessary antibiotic treatment in a population at low risk for ARF. The incidence of penicillin allergy approached 1%, supporting other studies that the risk of penicillin allergy is greater than the risk of ARF.