The Descriptive Epidemiology of Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease in Low and Middle-Income Countries

Das De Sudeep^1, and Krishna Sredhar²

¹Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, UK

²Department of Elderly Medicine, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK

Cite this paper:
Das De Sudeep and Krishna Sredhar. The Descriptive Epidemiology of Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease in Low and Middle-Income Countries. American Journal of Epidemiology and Infectious Disease. 2013; 1(4):34-40. doi: 10.12691/ajeid-1-4-2

Abstract

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) have been declining in developed nations. In low and middle-income countries, however, they continue to be a major cause of mortality and morbidity. It is estimated that RHD causes 200000-250000 premature deaths every year and is the leading cause of cardiovascular death in developing nations. This review aims to describe the background, pathogenesis and epidemiology of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in developing nations. The paper also highlights some of the public health measures, which can be undertaken to reduce the heavy disease burden of ARF and RHD in theses countries.

Keywords:
acute rheumatic fever (ARF) rheumatic heart disease (RHD) epidemiology Group A β haemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS)

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