Dr Baker noted that while rheumatic fever had almost disappeared among Western European and North American children, it was still a serious, sometimes fatal risk to Maori and Pacific children.
Health experts responding to the paper's findings said a $24 million government initiative was now addressing rheumatic fever in schools, but its introduction was belated.
The researchers found that New Zealanders living in deprived neighbourhoods were three times more likely to suffer infection compared with those living in the most affluent areas. Those under 5 and older than 65 made up the bulk of the admissions.
Co-author Philippa Howden-Chapman said interventions needed to be developed to address the major causes of poor health, in particular reducing poverty, lowering household crowding and improving access to immunisations and other health services.
Dr Baker has suggested that a council-run warrant of fitness programme for homes could resolve some of these health issues, by addressing risk factors such as mouldy rooms.
The authors noted that the Ministry of Health presented a strategic plan to reduce the burden of infectious disease in 2001. "Our findings show a need to revisit these strategies."
The research was published yesterday in the high-profile journal The Lancet.
