The control of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease: a call to raise the awareness

Although the incidence of rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) has declined in the developed world and many developing countries, yet it is still high in many countries including Sudan. The decline of frequency of RF in these countries is largely due to improved medical services leading to wide use of antibiotics to treat bacterial pharyngitis. In many developing countries, the incidence is decreased due to development of integrated control programs. Depending on secondary prophylaxis alone was shown to be ineffective, therefore, many countries, including Sudan initiated control programs that utilize both primary and secondary prevention together with increasing awareness and surveillance. The new program started in 2012 in Sudan in order to achieve its goal of reducing mortality of RHD by 25% in individual less than 25 years of age by year 2025. This article throws light on RF and RHD and its control program in Sudan.