Last Updated on 10 years by Publishing Team

What happens if they do have Rheumatic Fever?
If a person has Rheumatic Fever, they will need three- or four-weekly antibiotic injections for at least ten years to prevent them from further attacks. This may seem like a long time, but if they do not have these injections they could have another attack of Rheumatic Fever, which could cause long-term damage to their heart.

People with Rheumatic Fever need a health check every year to keep them well, and regular heart scans. Regular heart scans are important as damage to the heart may only show up years after the first attack.

I think my child has Rheumatic Fever. What do I do?
If you think your child or anyone you know has Rheumatic Fever, you must take them to the hospital where they will be admitted to have their blood tested and their heart checked.

I think my child might have had Rheumatic Fever. Could their heart be damaged?
One in 50 school children in Fiji have Rheumatic Heart Disease, yet most don’t know they have it. This means most people with Rheumatic Heart Disease come to the hospital too late, when their heart is already failing.

One in ten people with Rheumatic Heart Disease will die within the first six months of them being diagnosed with the disease.

If you think your child may have had Rheumatic Fever but wasn’t checked by a doctor, you should make an appointment with the hospital to have a check. Your doctor will advise you if your child needs a heart scan or other tests.