It's a Third World disease linked to poverty and it's on the rise in Northland.
And yesterday Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia launched a rheumatic fever prevention programme that health officials hope will arrest its rise.
Ki A Ora Ngatiwai Trust has a contract from the Ministry of Health todeliver throat swabbing to test for rheumatic fever in six Whangarei schools. Last year Northland had 19 cases of rheumatic fever, the highest on record since notifications started in 1986, with almost all school-aged Maori children. So far this year there have been eight cases, including four in Whangarei.
Ki A Ora Ngatiwai clinical team leader Sam Pohe three of the cases this year involved children from Otangarei which is why the programme was launched in the suburb at Te Kura o Otangarei.
"Rheumatic fever is very prominent among Maori and Pacific Islanders and it is linked to poverty and poor housing."
The trust's "Sore Throats Matter" rheumatic fever prevention programme will be visiting six schools within Whangarei - Te Kura o Otangarei; Hora Hora Primary; Whau Valley Primary; Manaia View Kura; Kura Kaupapa Te Rawhiti Roa and Morningside Primary.
"This service will take us one step closer to the vision I have of one day eliminating rheumatic fever from whanau and our communities," Ms Turia said.
"The launch of this school based throat swabbing programme as a partnership between Ki A Ora Ngatiwai and Te Kura o Otangarei is an excellent example of the sort of collaborative approach needed to help address this serious health issue we face."
There are four basic components in the programme: throat swabbing and referral service, increased and improved community awareness of rheumatic fever; network development and service co-ordination and reporting and monitoring.
FEVER FACTS
Rheumatic fever is caused by the reaction to a throat infection with the streptococcus A bacteria.
Occurs if the infection is left untreated.
Usually starts with fever and sore joints after a throat infection.
Causes serious heart damage which can be fatal, if untreated.
Considered a Third World disease and linked to poverty.
