Abstract:
An outreach programme was initiated to echocardiographically
screen Grade 10 - 12 learners, in Central
South Africa, for rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Preliminary
results, after the screening of 1 015 learners,
identifi ed 102 abnormal echocardiograms. The abnormal
echocardiograms were reviewed by an echocardiographer
and paediatric cardiologist team and 14
pathological conditions were confi rmed in 13 patients.
The abnormalities included RHD (n=5), pericardial
effusion (n=2), left ventricular hypertrophy (n=2), mitral
valve prolapse (n=3), ventricle septal defect (VSD) (n=1)
and sub-aorta stenosis (n=1).
The benchmark study by McClaren, et al. conducted in
Soweto in 1972 (n=12 050, age 2 - 18 years) showed an
overall RHD prevalence of 6.9 per 1 000 and 12.2 per
1 000 in the 15 - 18 year old bracket. The highest
incidence (19.2/100) was found in Grade 7 learners (age
not defi ned). The preliminary result of this study is 4.9
RHD cases per 1 000 in Grade 10 - 12 learners. This
fi nding may indicate an actual decline in the prevalence
of RHD in Central South Africa.
