Rheumatic heart disease

Neglected disease of poverty

Rheumatic heart disease affects children and young people living in conditions of poverty, poor sanitation and overcrowding. Practically eliminated in wealthy countries, it is still common in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. Over 15 million people around the world suffer from the condition, which kills hundreds of thousands of people a year and is the most common acquired heart disease found among children and young people in developing countries.

Rheumatic heart disease is often missed in its early stages. It begins with a common throat infection caused by streptococcus bacteria (strep throat), which in some children sets off an abnormal immune reaction that damages heart valves. This reaction, called rheumatic fever, has symptoms that are vague and easily confused with other conditions.

People affected often look and feel healthy again once their outward symptoms are resolved, but with further streptococcal infections the rheumatic fever returns, worsening their heart damage. Often rheumatic heart disease is only detected when it is so advanced that only expensive and complicated heart surgery can save the person's life.

Preventable tragedy

The heart surgery needed at that stage is seldom available or affordable for those who suffer from rheumatic heart disease. If it is, it drains valuable resources from health systems that are still struggling to meet basic health needs. Some countries in the Pacific spend up to 15% of their total health budget sending rheumatic heart disease victims abroad for surgery. Preventing rheumatic heart disease, on the other hand, is safe and cheap: if caught in time, the progression of heart damage can be halted by monthly penicillin injections that prevent streptococcal infection.

The World Heart Federation works with ministries of health, health practitioners and the World Health Organization to enhance rheumatic heart disease control at the national, regional and global levels.  It does this through:

• Scientific research and exchange on rheumatic heart disease
• Demonstration projects on rheumatic heart disease control in Africa and the South Pacific
• Online resources, tools and training materials for rheumatic heart disease control available free of charge for use by health care professionals worldwide