الفهرس 
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Abstract
Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is a postinfectious, nonsuppurative sequela that occurs two to four weeks following pharyngeal infection with GABHS and may consist of arthritis, carditis, chorea, erythema marginatum, and subcutaneous nodules. Of the associated symptoms, only RHD can become a chronic condition leading to CHF, strokes, endocarditis, and death. . While the incidence and prevalence of ARF and RHD have been decreasing in developed nations since the early 1900s, they continue to be major causes of morbidity and mortality among young people in developing nations.
Aim of the work:
The aim of the present work is to identify the clinical patterns of onset of ARF / RHD and to monitor the trend of the disease in AUCH over years by comparing the results of the current study with previous ones conducted at the same hospital.
Subjects and methods:
The files of 150 patients who were diagnosed as RF and/or RHD) and were following up in the outpatient cardiology clinic of AUCH were revised and they were contacted , those recruited had a recent follow up during the years 2014-2015. Seventy-one of our patients were males (47.3%) and 79 were females (52.7%). Clinical examination was performed during the follow-up visit and different diagnostic tools were used to assess their condition e.g. lab tests, CXR, ECG and echocardiography.
Results:
The majority of our patients (85.3%) aged 5-15 years old , 67.3% came from rural areas and 19.3% had positive family history of ARF/RHD. Carditis was the commonest major criteria reported being present in 75.3% , SCC was detected in 23.3%., the mitral valve was the commonest valve involved being abnormal in 74% initially and 54% subsequently Polyarthritis was present in 56% while chorea was reported in 6%. Fever was the commonest minor criteria being reported in 82%. As compared to previous studies , the overall number of cases of ARF/RHD have decreased over years despite the upward trend of the disease. More good compliance to LAP was observed and this was assosciated with decreased incidence of recurrence attacks as well as other complications.RHD was the commonest long term seq