RHEUMATIC-FEVER AND CHRONIC RHEUMATIC HEART-DISEASE IN SCHOOLCHILDREN IN SAUDI-ARABIA

A national survey was carried out in 1987 to assess the prevalence of rheumatic fever and chronic rheumatic heart disease among schoolchildren aged between 6 and 15 years in Saudi Arabia. A sample size of 47 810 (2% of the target population) was subjected to a clinical and laboratory evaluation. The study revealed the prevalence of rheumatic fever to be 0.3 per 1000 and the prevalence of chronic rheumatic heart disease 2.8 per 1000, giving an overall rate of 3.1 per 1000 schoolchildren (6-15 years). The prevalence was higher in rural areas and at low socioeconomic levels.