What is RHD?
Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) is a life-threatening disease that currently affects over 55 million people globally and over 500,000 Ugandans. RHD disproportionally affects children and young adults living in resource-limited settings. RHD is caused by untreated or undertreated recurrent strep infections. These infections can trigger an autoimmune response called rheumatic fever. The most serious manifestation of ARF is damage to the heart valves (RHD).
RHD can cause serious symptoms like fatigue, fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and swollen joints. Complications from RHD can include stroke, heart failure, and complications in pregnancy. However, RHD is largely preventable through the recognition and treatment of strep throat by early diagnosis and early intervention for ARF.
How do I get RHD?
RHD begins with group A Strep infection, most commonly strep throat. Untreated strep throat can trigger Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF) which causes an autoimmune reaction.
Rheumatic fever is the autoimmune response. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and swollen joints.
Can RHD be treated?
3. During the early RHD period, medication can be administered to prevent the progression of the disease. This treatment is called Secondary Antibiotic Prophylaxis (SAP) in this case Penicillin G benzathine (BPG). BPG is also known as a penicillin injection, which must be received every 28 days to provide protection from progression of the disease.
4 & 5. Advanced-stage RHD and End-stage RHD require surgical intervention or a catheterization procedure to repair the damage to the heart valves.
