What can happen if my
child/tamariki does not have
treatment?
He korokoro ora
he manawa ora
Mo tatou katoa
Your child may get rheumatic fever, which could
lead to permanent heart damage.
r
it?What if my child/tamariki
cs,
A healthy throat
a healthy heart
for all of us
does get Rheumatic Fever?
Helping to prevent
Rheumatic
Fever
• They will need to go to hospital for bedrest, antibiotics, blood tests and heart checks.
ork
d
an
• Your child/tamariki could be off school and may
be too tired to play their usual sports and activities.
s.
• Your child/tamariki will need regular doctors visits Fo
ist
and dental checks.
r
fu
rth will need monthly antibiotic
• Your child/tamariki
er
0
injections for at least
de10 years to protect them st 1 t
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ubattacks
p of arheumatic
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art
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For further information about rheumatic
fever please contact a doctor or nurse in
your area, or visit
www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz
on
eb
yN
or
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Sore Throats
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Acknowledgements:
Design and layout: Lakes DHB Rheumatic Fever Project
Steering Group, Text: Northland District Health Board
April 2010
Matter!
What is Rheumatic Fever?
What can I do to prevent
Rheumatic
Fever?Throat
Strep Sore
Rheumatic Fever
Rheumatic fever is a serious preventable disease
that can cause permanent heart damage.
If the swab shows that the group A Strep bug is
present,
willSore
usually
prescribe antibiotics
What the
is adoctor
Strep
Throat?
which
will need
to be
taken by
for a10
days. It is really
A throat
infection
caused
streptococcal
important
that
the
whole
10
day
course
A bacteria (Strep bug) which can leadistocompleted
to rheumatic
prevent rheumatic
fever. fever from developing.
What is Rheumatic Fever?
Rheumatic fever is a serious disease which
can cause permanent heart damage.
What causes Rheumatic
Fever?
What causes Rheumatic Fever?
Group
A Streptococcal
bacteria
throat A
infection
A throat
infection caused
by a Group
(‘strep
throat’) can
causecan
a reaction
leads
Streptococcal
bacteria
cause awhich
reaction
towhich
rheumatic
This often
starts
with later
a sore
leads fever.
to rheumatic
fever.
Weeks
it maybut
leadweeks
to joint
pain,
tiredness,
throat,
later
it may
lead tofever
joint or
pain,
jerky movements.
Heartmovements.
damage canHeart
develop
tiredness,
fever or jerky
damage
immediately
or
within
a
few
months.
People
can develop immediately, or within a few months.
who have
rheumatic
fever can
getcan
it again
People
whohad
have
had rheumatic
fever
get it
if
it
is
not
treated.
again if they are not treated.
What can I do to prevent my child/
tamariki getting rheumatic fever?
Do all sore throats lead to
Ifyourchildhasasorethroatwhichlasts
Rheumatic
Fever?
longer than 24 hours
take them to the doctor.
Sore Throat
Why is
it important
take strep
my child/
How
do
we stoptothe
tamariki to the doctor if they have a
bug
sore spreading?
throat?
Throat swab by doctor
(StrepAbugidentified)
Not seen
by a doctor
• Ensure children/tamariki wash and dry their hands
will happen?
What
after coughing
or sneezing.
Early Treatment
(Antibiotics for 10
days)
No treatment
Rheumatic Fever
prevented
Rheumatic Fever
may develop
Ask the
doctor
to check
their throat
because
Many
people
have
sore throats
that just
go away in
you
are
worried
it
could
be
a
strep
throat
a few days. BUT… if a sore throat is caused by the
infection.
group
A Strep bug it could lead to rheumatic fever.
Ifyourchildisprescribedantibioticsmake
sure they take it for 10 days exactly as it is
prescribed.
How do I know if it is a group
Ifyouareworriedgetyourchildcheckedby
AtheStrep
doctor or bug?
nurse.
Only a throat swab can tell if the group A strep bug
is present. If a child or young person complains of a
sore throat make sure they get checked by a doctor.
Ask the doctor to take a throat swab.
The
group A Strep bug is very contagious and can
IfthesorethroatiscausedbytheStrepAbug
beyour
spread
coughing
childbywill
need toand
get sneezing
treatment.around
Other others:
signs
like
sore
joints
and
a
high
temperature
• Teach your children/tamariki and whanau to cover your
child
has rheumatic
fever.
may
theirmean
mouths
when
coughing
or sneezing.
nurse
willagain
swab(your
your child
child’s
• The
Strepdoctor
throatorcan
occur
does not throat.Ifthestrepbugispresentthedoctor
become immune to the strep bug).
will usually prescribe a 10 day course of
• It is important to take your child to the doctor or antibiotics.
nurse for a check each time they have a sore antibiotics must be taken as prescribed
The
throat.
untiltheyarefinishedevenifthesorethroat
feels better after 2-3 days, otherwise the
infection may come back.
Who is most at risk?
Anyone can get rheumatic fever, but those most at
What can happen if my child/tamariki
risk are:
does not have treatment?
Healthy Heart
Permanent heart
damage may occur
• Your
Children
young
people between
the ages
childand
may
get rheumatic
fever which
couldof 5 and
years old. heart damage.
lead14
to permanent
• Maori and Pacific children.
• People with family/whanau who have had rheumatic fever.
• People who share a house with lots of others.