The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics 2005 , Vol 47 , Num 2
Childhood acute rheumatic fever in Ankara, Turkey
Section of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey Özer S, Hallıoğlu O, Özkutlu S, Çeliker A, Alehan D, Karagöz T. Childhood acute rheumatic fever in Ankara, Turkey. Turk J Pediatr 2005; 47: 120-124.

Patients with acute rheumatic fever (ARF) admitted to a tertiary hospital in Ankara between January 1999 and July 2002 were studied cross-sectionally to verify the clinical profile and were followed during the acute period.

All patients were investigated for throat culture, streptococcal serologic study, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and telecardiograms, electrocardiograms and echocardiographic study were done.

During the study period, 129 attacks of ARF were observed: 118 were initial attacks and 11 were recurrences. Age on admission was 11.2±2.73 years (mean±SD, range: 6-21 years). Polyarthritis alone was present in 42 cases (33%), carditis alone in 33 (25%), combined carditis and polyarthritis in 36 (28%), combined carditis and chorea in 15 (12%) and chorea alone in 3 (2%). Nineteen (14%) patients with isolated arthritis and pure chorea had silent mitral and/or aortic regurgitation. Carditis was a dominant presenting manifestation, but appeared to be mild or moderate.

The present study indicates that ARF is still a significant problem in Turkey. The observation that 8.5% of the attacks were recurrent reaffirms the need for more effective secondary prevention programs. Keywords : acute rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease, children.

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