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Apparent Contrasting Rates of Pharyngitis and Pyoderma in Regions where Rheumatic Heart Disease is Highly Prevalent

McDonald, Malcolm I., Brown, A., Edwards, T., Hope, A, Amu, M., Morey, F., Currie, Bart J. and Carapetis, Jonathan R. (2007). Apparent Contrasting Rates of Pharyngitis and Pyoderma in Regions where Rheumatic Heart Disease is Highly Prevalent. Heart Lung and Circulation,16(4):254-259.

Document type: Journal Article
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IRMA ID 10139xPUB112
Title Apparent Contrasting Rates of Pharyngitis and Pyoderma in Regions where Rheumatic Heart Disease is Highly Prevalent
Author McDonald, Malcolm I.
Brown, A.
Edwards, T.
Hope, A
Amu, M.
Morey, F.
Currie, Bart J.
Carapetis, Jonathan R.
Journal Name Heart Lung and Circulation
Publication Date 2007
Volume Number 16
Issue Number 4
ISSN 1443-9506   (check CDU catalogue open catalogue search in new window)
Start Page 254
End Page 259
Total Pages 6
Place of Publication Australia
Publisher Elsevier
Field of Research 1102 - Cardiovascular Medicine and Haematology
HERDC Category C1 - Journal Article (DEST)
Abstract Background: The aim of the study was to describe the epidemiology of pharyngitis and pyoderma in a Central Australian Aboriginal community with a high prevalence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and compare it to communities in the Top End of the Northern Territory. Methods: Following ethics approval and community consultation, selected households were enrolled and visited over a 13-month period. People were asked if they had a sore throat and/or skin sores and asked about current or recent use of antibiotics; all throats and any pyoderma lesions were swabbed for bacterial culture. Beta-haemolytic streptococci (BHS), including group A streptococcus (GAS), were identified in the central laboratory using standard methods. Household crowding was also assessed. Results were then compared to those from the Top End study. Results: Sore throat was relatively common (480 episodes per 100 person years), although there was only one case of GAS pharyngitis in 326 consultations. Only 5.5% of children <15 years had pyoderma during the course of the study. This is the opposite picture to that reported in the Top End where symptomatic pharyngitis is rare and pyoderma is common. Conclusions: Although the data are limited, the epidemiology of pharyngitis and pyoderma in this Central Australian Aboriginal community appears to be more akin to that seen in temperate climates rather than tropical Top End communities. In this community, RHD preventative measure should continue to include aggressive treatment of pharyngitis according to recommendations.
Keywords Rheumatic fever
Rheumatic heart disease
Beta-haemolytic streptococcus
Pharyngitis
Pyoderma
Aboriginal
Central Australia
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hlc.2007.02.087   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)
 
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