The Australian guideline for prevention, diagnosis and management of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease (2nd edition):

• Identifies the standard of care, including preventive care, which should be available to all people
• Identify areas where current management strategies may not be in line with available evidence
• Ensures that high-risk populations receive the same standard of care as that available to other Australians.

Applying the latest available evidence, RHDAustralia led a comprehensive review of the 2006 guideline originally produced by the Heart Foundation and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand.

The revised guideline was published in 2012 and expanded on the first edition to provide clinicians with additional information on preventative action, diagnosis and management of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Previous copies of the guideline (2006 edition) should be deleted. Quick reference guides on key topics are also available:

Primary prevention of ARF
Diagnosis of ARF
Management of ARF
Secondary prevention of ARF
Management of RHD
RHD in pregnancy
RHD control programs

A 3rd revision of the guideline will commence in 2016, led by RHDAustralia in partnership with previous stakeholders and the END RHD Centre for Research Excellence.

Download the Guideline and ARF diagnosis app

Printed copies of the guideline and quick reference guides are available from the RHD Control Programs in your state or Territory. For those not located in the Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia or South Australia please contact info@rhdaustralia.org.au to request copies.