SORE THROATSMATTER

Rheumatic fever • is a serious disease caused by a strep throat

• can make children very sick and cause heart damage

• may mean a lifetime of feeling breathless and tired

• can shorten life

SORE THROATS MATTER

• New Zealand still has high rates of rheumatic fever

• In [name of region] [X] cases [relevant local info]

SORE THROATS MATTER

Rheumatic fever

Who is most at-risk?

• Māori and Pacific families/whānau

• Aged 5 – 20

• Families/whānau who have had rheumatic fever

• Families/whānau who live in houses with lots of people

SORE THROATS MATTER

How does rheumatic fever affect the body?

Acute rheumatic feveraffects 3 organ systems

Brain

Heart

Joints (arthritis)

What can I do?

• If your child has a sore throat, get itchecked by a health worker, nurseor doctor

• Some schools do throat checks– ask your school

• Ask your children to tell you whenthey have a sore throat so you canget it checked

• If your child has a strep throat make sure your child finishes the 10-day course of antibiotics

Treating strep throat

A quick throat swab

Take the full 10-daycourse of antibiotics

How to protect my whānau

• Good hand washing and drying

• Covering mouths when coughing and sneezing

• Don’t share water bottles, cups and toothbrushes

• Tell the health worker if other people in your house have a sore throat

SORE THROATS MATTER

More information

SORE THROATS MATTER

• Ask a health worker or health centre for more information about sore throats and rheumatic fever

• Visit sorethroatsmatter.org.nz

• Call Healthline 0800 611 116

Thanks to the Ngati Hine Health Trust, National Coordination Service, National Heart Foundation of New Zealand, Toi Te Ora, and the National Hauora Coalition for contributing images and information for this slideshow.

Acknowledgements