Dr A. A. S. Majumder of the Bangladesh Cardiac Society and Dr A. K. Islam have recently had an article entitled ‘Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in Bangladesh: a review’ published in the Indian Heart Journal.

Their review examines available data on rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Bangladesh, where national information on RHD is currently insufficient. In addition to studying the prevalence of streptococcal sore throat, RF and RHD, the article considers the impact of risk factors such as poverty, overcrowding, genetics and lack of adherence to secondary prophylaxis.
 
While there has been a ‘definite trend toward steady decline in incidence and prevalence’ of rheumatic fever in Bangladesh, the report also notes that ‘continuing high incidence and prevalence of chronic RHD is a reality’.
 
As no specific control program for RF and RHD currently exists, the review calls for a large-scale, nationwide survey and clinical research in Bangladesh, with the data obtained used to ‘formulate national policy to combat this public health problem more efficiently in future’.

You can read the article in full online, here.