Evaluation of a screening protocol using auscultation and portable echocardiography to detect asymptomatic rheumatic heart disease in Tongan schoolchildren
Jonathan R Carapetis*, Myra Hardy, Toakase Fakakovikaetau, Rohayati Taib, Lyn Wilkinson, Daniel J Penny and Andrew C Steer
Correspondence *Menzies School of Health Research, PO Box 41096, Casuarina, NT 0811, Australia Tel: +61 8 8922 8196
Email jonathan.carapetis@menzies.edu.au
Rheumatic heart disease is an important problem in developing countries but many cases are detected only when the disease has progressed to cardiac failure. Screening can detect cases earlier, but there are no screening guidelines. In this paper the authors describe a novel screening protocol and report a high echocardiographically confirmed prevalence of rheumatic heart disease among Tongan schoolchildren.
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