Abstract Rheumatic heart disease is an important and preventable cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, particularly in school-aged children and young adults. It can lead to potentially life-threatening sequelae, including heart failure, endocarditis, atrial fibrillation, and embolic stroke. Permanent valvular damage can require surgical repair or replacement. Rheumatic heart disease is largely preventable with antibiotic prophylaxis. Two-dimensional echocardiography remains the gold standard for evaluation, though cardiac MRI and cardiac CT can provide useful diagnostic information.
Reyes et al. (Tue,) studied this question.