Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease among 56,8000 inhabitants in southeast Teheran from 1972-1974

Abstract

A study of the incidence of R. fever in an area in southeast Teheran during the period 1972-1974 revealed 92 cases. The crude annual incidence of R. fever ranged from a high of 58 cases to a low of 51 cases per 100,000 population. The age and sex specific rates revealed the incidence to be strikingly higher in the 5-19 year age group, reaching roughly 80/100,000. There was an approximately similar number of males and females with R. fever. Among the R. fever patients, there were 6 cases of chorea, 5 girls and 1 boy. From 92 R. fever cases, 49 (53%) developed carditis. Among these patients, 35 (71%) were female in contrast to 14 (29%) male cases. Overall there were 59 cases (62%) which were initial attacks and 33 cases (38%) which were recurrences. During the trial there were also 7 recurrences of R fever and 4 deaths. The seasonal pattern showed that the majority of cases occurred during the winter and spring months. From the R. fever/R.H.D. patients, 63 (70%) and from cases with carditis alone, 24 (40%) were hospitalized.