Penicillin slows rheumatic heart disease among children in Uganda

Though widely eradicated in the developed world through the quick and successful treatment of streptococcus bacteria, also known as strep throat, which causes rheumatic fever, the disease remains prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa.

“We know from previous studies that sub-Saharan Africa continues to have the highest numbers of people with rheumatic heart disease, and the highest numbers of people dying from it,” said Craig Sable associate chief of Cardiology at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC and co-senior author of the study.

This is the first contemporary randomised controlled trial in rheumatic heart disease. “The results are incredibly important on their own, but also demonstrate that high-quality clinical trials are feasible to address this neglected cardiovascular disease,” said Andrea Beaton, associate professor of Cardiology at Cincinnati Children’s hospital.