[Epidemiology of rheumatic fever. A local study].
OBJECTIVE
To identify the clinical findings of first attack in acute rheumatic fever (ARF), and to find a profile of its epidemiology.


METHODS
Results of clinical manifestations, incidence, laboratory findings relative to a new cases of first attack in ARF were studied. Six hospitals in Porto Alegre area were involved in the surveillance, during 16 months between 1992 and 1993.


RESULTS
Fifty-one cases with clinical manifestations were recorded: 40 (78.4%) cases with arthritis; 28 (56%) with carditis; 6 (11.8%) with Sydenhan's Chorea, 6 (11.8%) with erythema marginatum and 4 (7.8%) with subcutaneous nodes.


CONCLUSIONS
Diagnostic criteria firstly described by Jones are still employed in the clinical diagnosis in ARF in a first attack and that remains the principal etiology of valvar heart disease in that city.
Gus
I
I
Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul/Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia.
Zaslavsky
C
C
Seger
J M
JM
Strehl Machado
R
R
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
Epidemiologia da febre reumática. Estudo local.