Cases of rheumatic fever in children in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) have been highlighted as a concern by local pediatricians due to its association with rheumatic heart disease and the record number of cases in the country.

This is the information we learned from consultant paediatrician and pediatric cardiologist Dr. Shari-Anne Davis-Andrews on a recent episode of VC3’s Roundtable Talks on Heart Health.

Dr. Davis Andrews explained that the most common case of heart disease diagnosed in Vincent’s children is congenital heart disease, which occurs as a result of a birth defect. This is followed by acquired heart disease.

“…It’s a very close second place, but it’s very difficult because we don’t have numbers to compare it to. We see a lot more cases of acquired heart disease, like Kawasaki disease, so we see a lot more rheumatic heart disease.”

Doctors explained that rheumatic fever, an inflammatory condition that develops when a streptococcal infection is not treated properly, can affect the heart. However, many cases locally remain undiagnosed.

“Usually when you have a sore throat and you have strep, your body produces antibodies that attack different areas because of that. Our biggest concern is that it can attack the heart. ” she explained.

“We are actually seeing some of these cases, but it’s hard to say exactly how many cases we’re actually seeing because some cases are undiagnosed.”
A recent visit to SVG by the World Pediatrics Project found that many children were experiencing heart changes most likely related to rheumatic fever.

“In May 2023, WPP surveyed students aged 9 to 11 in 13 primary schools and tested 687 children, of whom eight cases were found to have heart changes associated with rheumatic fever. This means that these children may have been exposed to rheumatic fever and perhaps unknowingly began to show changes such as damage to their heart valves. Although such cases exist , Unfortunately, we may not recognize these cases until they develop heart failure or become seriously ill.”

She emphasized the importance of children being treated with antibiotics for streptococcal infections to prevent the development of rheumatic heart disease.
As it relates to cardiovascular health in adults, cardiologist Dr. Addis Fuentes notes that heart disease was the second leading cause of death in Vincentian residents in 2002 and is now the leading cause of death worldwide. I made one thing clear.

Fuentes said other lifestyle diseases, such as high blood pressure and diabetes with high cholesterol levels, are preventable and do not need to progress to heart disease.