Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD)
What is Rheumatic Heart Disease?
Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) is a serious heart condition caused by acute rheumatic fever (ARF), which can develop after an untreated infection like a sore throat or skin sores caused by group A streptococcus.
During rheumatic fever, the heart valve tissue, and sometimes other parts of the heart (the lining or muscle), can become swollen and inflamed. This inflammation, known as carditis, can leave the heart valves scarred, disrupting normal blood flow.
When the heart valves are damaged in this way, they may not function properly, leading to rheumatic heart disease.
A person who has been diagnosed with RHD is required to have a lifelong treatment schedule of antibiotic injections and daily blood-thinning medications. HeartKids works side by side with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled organisations and communities to develop culturally safe and responsive resources aimed at education and prevention of RHD.
RHD has a high impact on the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, especially youth, who are at higher risk due to inadequate housing and inequitable health care.
Many of these young people face a lifelong treatment regime of monthly antibiotic injections and daily blood-thinning medication.
Between 30-40 young people with RHD per year travel from the Northern Territory to The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne for surgery.
What are the symptoms of RHD?
If RHD develops, it may cause symptoms such as:
- Shortness of breath
- Tiredness or fatigue
- Swelling in the legs or abdomen
- Chest pain or discomfort
- A rapid or irregular heartbeat
If you or your child experiences these symptoms, it is important to speak to a doctor or healthcare provider quickly. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent further problems.
What treatment options are there?
A person diagnosed with RHD will require a treatment plan, including antibiotic injections
and possibly daily blood-thinning medications.
Bicillin (a long-acting penicillin) is an essential treatment for managing ARF and RHD. It helps
prevent further ARF episodes and protects the heart from additional damage.
Bicillin is administered as an injection into a muscle, typically every 3-4 weeks.
Treatment duration depends on the severity of RHD but may last several years.
