Prevalence of Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease in Yemen

The major aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in Yemen. Between October 1997 and March 1998, a prospective cluster-sampling screening study was carried out on 5000 schoolchildren (2504 female and 2496 male), aged 5 to 18 years. Suspected cases were subjected to electrocardiography, chest radiography, and Doppler echocardiography. Although no case of active rheumatic fever was found, 12 girls and 6 boys were affected by the disease, giving a prevalence of 3.6 per 1000, which is higher than that reported from neighboring countries. All confirmed and suspected cases were given penicillin G benzathine every 3 weeks, according to body weight, after a test dose. Prevention programs for rheumatic fever, together with prevention of streptococcal throat infections, are goals for the near future.