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By ULY CLINIC staff

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Children

Rheumatic Heart Disease


It is a complication of ARF which causes permanent damage to the heart valves.
 

Diagnostic Criteria
 

  • Dyspnoea on exertion, cough, wheezing

  • Orthopnoea

  • Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea

  • Haemoptysis

  • Exercise intolerance

  • Bounding pulses, increased pre-cordial activity and impulse, displaced apical impulse, increased S2 if there is pulmonary hypertension.

  • With evidence of valvular lesion on Echocardiogram.
     

Investigations

  • ECG

  • Chest-X ray

  • Echocardiogram

  • Cardiac catheterization

 

Treatment


Non pharmacological treatment
 

  • Provide primary prophylaxis for infective endocarditis and secondary prophylaxis for acute rheumatic fever.

  • Treat heart failure if present (refer to heart failure)
     

Note:
 

Patients with valvular damage should be referred to the next level facility with adequate expertise and facilities.

Last updated on 16.09.2020

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References

  1. Tanzanian Standard treatment guideline for children 2017 edition page 103

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