COMPARISON OF CLINICAL AND ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF RHEUMATIC FEVER IN CHILDREN: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Taru Sharma, MD and Mithilesh Kumar*, MD

ABSTRACT

ARF / RHD in a developing country is very much preventable and has significant burden on public health resources.; It’s cross sectional study of children of 5-15 yrs age, attending OPD or admitted to VIMS, Bellary satisfying the WHO RHD criterion. Mean age was 10.96 yrs with the M; F; 1.3:1. Clinical Profile has: carditis being commonest followed by fever, polyarthritis/ arthralgia and chorea. Overcrowding observed in 68 %, low socioeconomic status in 92%. Lab parameter mean Hb 10.85 gm%, elevated anti- ASO titer 68%, positive throat swab 64%, elevated CRP 68%, ESR 39.96, prolonged PR interval 12%, Mitral valve was the most commonly involved. Echo found significantly higher TR in patient than clinically. Additionally, echo detected subclinical patient and IE Children with ARF may present with joint symptoms or chorea, features that could be recognized by community health workers. Echo had advantage in detection of TR, subclinical cases and IE.

Keywords: Rheumatic Fever, Rheumatic heart disease, Jones criteria, echocardiography.