Screening and Secondary Prevention Rheumatic Heart Disease Study

Rheumatic Heart Disease

After basic clinical screening including history and physical, Point of care ultrasound will be performed to look at Mitral, Aortic and Tricuspid Valves for regurgitation or stenosis. For patients with confirmed Rheumatic heart disease (RHD), treatment and referral depending on stage of disease. Antibiotic prescription could be shifted to community health workers delivering preventive medications via practical clinical algorithms, diagnostic tools, availability of appropriate antibiotics, and supportive supervision. Patients will have repeat imaging at 2 years and 5 years to look at the outcome of delayed progression of valve disease.

Screening for RHD should be carried out since it is a major health concern that has been shown to have a treatable and detectable latent stage that can be diagnosed using a simple sensitive test (point of care ultrasound) and early treatment (secondary prevention using antibiotic prophylaxis) can provide a better outcome (slow progression of disease) in a cost effective way. The investigators aim to study the Incidence and Prevalence of RHD in community and school settings and aim to intervene depending on the stage the disease is picked up in.

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Pakistan