Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Uganda Heart Institute, Khartoum, Sudan
Research Article
Silent Acute Rheumatic Fever Unmasked by Using Handheld Echocardiography for Febrile Children Presenting in an RHD Endemic Area
Author(s): Sulafa Ali, Andrea Beaton, Emma Ndagire and Lamia Elhag*
Background: Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) is a preventable sequelae of Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF), an immune reaction to group A streptococcal infection. ARF is often underdiagnosed leading to late presentation with advanced RHD. Handheld Echocardiography (HHE) proved to be reliable in diagnosis of subclinical RHD. This study aims to assess the utility of HHE in diagnosis of ARF in febrile children.
Methods: A cross sectional, hospital based study was carried out at the Pediatric Hospital in Al Obeid city, North Kordofan, Sudan. Febrile children 3-18 years of age with or without symptoms of ARF and no other identifiable cause for the fever were included. History, examination, blood investigations (complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C reactive protein, anti streptolysin O titre and blood film for malaria) were done.. View more»