This poster and video have been developed to provide an overview of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease for people working in schools. School staff are well placed to assist children aged 5-14 years, their families and communities to prevent and manage these conditions.
Untreated sore throats and skin sores can lead to acute rheumatic fever, then to rheumatic heart disease, then to open heart surgery in high-risk children. Preventing sore throats and skin sores, and careful management of acute rheumatic fever prevents rheumatic heart disease.