Acute rheumatic fever in Jordanian children

Rheumatic fever remains a significant health problem in Jordan. We retrospectively reviewed medical charts of 28 boys and 22 girls [mean age at presentation 10.5 +/- 2.6 years] with confirmed diagnosis based on modified Jones criteria at Queen Alia Heart Institute from February 1999 to February 2002. Arthritis was the commonest major manifestation [88%; 68% migratory], carditis was second commonest [48%; 8% silent carditis] and chorea was seen in 6%. None had subcutaneous nodules or erythema marginatum. The mitral valve was most commonly affected [80%]; both mitral and aortic valves were affected in 25%. Pericarditis was seen in 12.5% and acute congestive heart failure in 4%. Practitioners should be aware of diverse clinical presentations and emphasize strict adherence to prophylaxis guidelines