Screening for rheumatic heart disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children

摘要: Rheumatic heart disease is preventable but causes significant morbidity and mortality in Aboriginal Australian Torres Strait Islander populations. Screening echocardiography has the potential to detect early rheumatic thereby enabling timely commencement of treatment (secondary prophylaxis) halt progression. However, a number issues prevent echocardiographic screening for satisfying criteria acceptable programs. Primarily, it unclear what should be used define positive result as questions remain regarding significance, natural history subclinical disease. Furthermore, at present delivery secondary prophylaxis Australia remains suboptimal such that benefits would limited. Finally, impact on local health services psychosocial patients families are yet ascertained.