RECURRENT RHEUMATIC ACTIVITY

Abstract

Diagnosis of rheumatic fever (RF), under specified criteria, is a difficult bed-side exercise, and diagnosis of recurrences or recurrent rheumat ic activity (RRA) is certainly more challenging. The recurrence rate of RF is highest in the first year after the original episode and decreases in the subsequent two years (E1—Sadr and Taranta 1979). In the secondary prophylaxis programme in New Delhi streptococcal infection rate of 0.14 per patient-year and rheumatic, recurrence rate of 0.02 per patient-year has been reported (Padmavati 1978). General practitioners’ bias for broad spectrum antibiotics for treatment of pharygitis, for supposed quicker results and lesser side effects, needs recrientation towards pencillin as the drug of first choice.