SURVEY OF PREVALENCE RATE OF RHEUMATIC FEVER AND RHEUMATIC HEART DISEASE AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN TEHRAN

Abstract

A study was undertaken to find out the prevalence rate or rheumatic fever (R.F.) and rheumatic heart disease (R.H.D.) among pupils in selected schools of Tehran, and to evaluate the rate of socio-economical factors on prevalence rate of this disease. During period of 5 months, 6, 183 children and adolescents aged 5-17 were studied. Out of 6,183 pupils, 3, 680 were boys (59.5) and 2,503 were girls (40.5%). 1,425(23%) were in high, 1,381 (22%) in mid, and (55%) in low socio- economic classes. Out of these, 32 (5.2/per 1000) had history of R.F. in the past and 17 (2.7/per 1000) had R.H.D. with an all together prevalence rate of 7.9/per 1000. There was no significant difference in the prevalence rate of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease between the children in high and low socioeconomic group.