South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde
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Multicenter Study
Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease among children presenting to two referral hospitals in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remain significant causes of morbidity and mortality in resource-limited settings. In Zimbabwe ARF/RHD characteristics have not been systematically documented. ⋯ ARF/RHD remains a major problem and cause of hospital admissions in Harare, Zimbabwe. Children often present late with established RHD and cardiac failure. With the majority on oral penicillin, secondary prophylaxis was suboptimal in a resource-limited setting unable to offer valve replacement surgery.