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Rheumatic Fever • is a serious illness caused by a sore throat (strep

throat)

• is an inflammatory disease that causes the brain and joints to become inflamed and swollen

• can make children very sick and cause heart damage

• may mean a lifetime of feeling breathless and tired

• can be easily prevented by making sure every sore throat gets checked and treated straight away

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• New Zealand still has high rates of rheumatic fever

• In [name of region] [X] cases [relevant local info]

Rheumatic Fever

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Who is most at-risk?• Māori and Pacific families

• Aged 4 - 19

• Families who have had rheumatic fever

• Families who live in houses with lots of people

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How does rheumatic fever affect the body?

Acute rheumatic feveraffects 3 organ systems

Brain

Heart

Joints (arthritis)

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Symptoms of rheumatic fever • Sore and swollen joints (knees, elbows, ankles and

wrists)• An on-going fever that lasts a few days• They may also have stomach pains, extreme tiredness

and unusual rash on their body

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Reducing the risk for your school is easy

• Ask your students if they have sore throats – build checks into your schools’ daily routine

• Some schools have a throat swabbingclinic – refer children with sore throats

• No clinic? Let the family know they need to get a doctor or nurse to check their child’s sore throat straight away

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What happens next?

A quick throat swab

Child needs to take the full 10-daycourse of antibiotics

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Reducing the risk to your school community• Good hand washing and drying

• Covering mouths when coughing and sneezing

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Resources to help your school• Family guide booklet• Visual aid – shows the

steps of rheumatic fever• Inserts for school

newsletters

Download fromhpa.org.nz/rheumatic fever

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More information

• Ask your doctor or nurse for more information about sore throats and rheumatic fever

• Visit hpa.org.nz/rheumatic fever

• Call Healthline 0800 611 116

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