Rheumatic Heart Disease

General Clinic | Pharmacy | Ear Health | Rheumatic Heart Disease | Aged Care

Rheumatic heart disease is another condition with an especially high prevalence amongst Aboriginal people, children in particular, and is the result of complications stemming from untreated rheumatic fever. It is characterised by damage to the structures of the heart, including valves, lining, and muscle.

Rheumatic heart disease is potentially fatal, and is incurable. However, treatment can manage the symptoms and reduce the risk of complications.

Again as part of the clinic, and in conjunction with the Northern Territory’s Centre for Disease Control who maintain the Rheumatic Heart Disease register, we manage those clients with notifiable rheumatic fever.

Primarily, this involves preventing further “bouts” of rheumatic fever through antibiotic therapy.

Using the Register, the Rheumatic Fever Aboriginal Health Worker ensures that clients continue to receive this therapy at the appropriate frequency, and as necessary, will work with transport staff to ensure that access to the clinic is not an impediment to treatment.

Education also plays a large part of the Health Worker’s role, as we try to make people aware of the risks of rheumatic fever, and of the importance of having “strep” infections (“strep” refers to the Group A streptococcus bacterium which can cause rheumatic fever) treated as early as possible.