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

​

Go back to main menu

Go back to previous session

Go to next session

​

References

​

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