Strait Access Technologies

Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) is an easily preventable type of heart disease caused by streptococcal bacteria. This bacteria is responsible for a common throat infection known as strep throat. When left untreated, a patients immune system can turn against his own heart while fighting the infection. This can lead to an acute inflammation of the heart accompanied by high fever (acute rheumatic fever). The inflammation can damage heart valves irreversibly. The disease mainly affects children between the ages 5 -15, and occurs approximately 1428 days after symptoms of strep throat or scarlet fever appear. According to conservative and outdated WHO estimates, 15 million people are affected by the disease globally. Newer statistics argue that the number could be up to five times higher, at 6075 million people worldwide. Rheumatic Heart Disease is much more prevalent among those living in developing countries, especially subSaharan Africa, due to limited access to quality healthcare ...