SORE THROATSMATTER

Rheumatic Fever • is a serious disease caused by a strep throat

• can make children very sick and cause heart damage

• may mean a lifetime of feeling breathless and tired

• can shorten life

SORE THROATS MATTER

• New Zealand still has high rates of rheumatic fever

• In [name of region] [X] cases [relevant local info]

SORE THROATS MATTER

Rheumatic Fever

Who is most at-risk?

• Māori and Pacific tamariki

• Aged 5 – 20

• Families/whānau who have had rheumatic fever

• Families/whānau who live in houses with lots of people

SORE THROATS MATTER

How does rheumatic fever affect the body?

Acute rheumatic feveraffects 3 organ systems

Brain

Heart

Joints (arthritis)

Reducing the risk for your school is easy

• Ask your students if they have sore throats – build checks into your schools’ daily routine

• Some schools have a throat swabbingclinic – refer children with sore throats

• No clinic? Notify family about the need for a health worker, doctor or nurse to check every sore throat.

What happens next?

A quick throat swab

Child needs to take the full 10-daycourse of antibiotics

Reducing the risk to your school community

• Good hand washing and drying

• Covering mouths when coughing and sneezing

• Don’t let children share water bottles, cups and toothbrushes

SORE THROATS MATTER

Resources to help your school

• Posters• Flyers• Stickers• Inserts for school

newsletters

Order or download from

sorethroatsmatter.org.nz

More information

SORE THROATS MATTER

• Ask a health worker or health centre for more information about sore throats and rheumatic fever

• Visit sorethroatsmatter.org.nz

• Call Healthline 0800 611 116

Thanks to Ngati Hine Health Trust, the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand, Toi Te Ora, the National Hauora Coalition and Northland DHB for contributing images and information for this slideshow, which has been compiled by the Health Promotion Agency.

Acknowledgements