Prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in school-going children of Eastern Uttar Pradesh.
BACKGROUND
Rheumatic heart disease is a major health problem in our country. There is evidence from South India that its prevalence is declining. This study attempts to confirm whether this is so in North India as well.


RESULTS
A total of 118,212 (68,357 males, 49,855 females) schoolchildren in the age group of 4-18 years were examined for the presence of heart disease. Evaluation, including echocardiography, confirmed that of a total of 389 suspected to have heart disease, 61 had rheumatic heart disease. Thus, the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease was found to be approximately 0.5 per 1000 children.


CONCLUSIONS
In a fairly large school survey conducted by us, the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease turned out to be approximately 0.5 per 1000 children. This is the lowest figure reported from our country so far and confirms the decline of this disease in our country.
Misra
Mukul
M
Department of Medicine, BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. mukul_rk_misra@indiatimes.com
Mittal
Mahim
M
Singh
Rk
R
Verma
Am
A
Rai
Rajendra
R
Chandra
Gyan
G
Singh
Dp
D
Chauhan
Rahul
R
Chowdhary
Vijay
V
Singh
Rp
R
Mall
Ak
A
Khan
Mohd J
MJ
Khare
Suyash
S
Yadav
Kb
K
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors