Document Detail


Integrated community-based screening for cardiovascular diseases of childhood.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  9233059     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
A screening programme in northern India, principally aimed at detecting and controlling rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease (RF/RHD) in children, also picks up individuals with congenital heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions, who are then referred for consultation and treatment. This strategy is clearly more ethical and cost-effective than screening programmes concerned exclusively with the control of RF/RHD.
Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease (RF/RHD) and congenital heart disease cause considerable disability and mortality among children, especially in developing countries. In the Shimla Hills of northern India, integrated first-level symptom-based screening for cardiovascular diseases has been conducted in 15,080 schoolchildren aged 5-16 years, with good results. Histories of fever, sore throat, swollen or painful joints, breathlessness, fatigue, and involuntary movements were noted. A physician then looked for objective evidence of RF/RHD, congenital heart disease, or functional murmur in all of the children. When any of those conditions was suspected, the cases were referred to a cardiologist at a tertiary care center, where detailed investigations were conducted. There were 45 cases of RF/RHD, 912 of functional murmur, and 34 of congenital heart disease. Traditional secondary prophylaxis programs for RF/RHD usually exclude congenital heart disease cases even though they also need treatment. This strategy used in Shimla Hills is more ethical and cost-effective than screening programs concerned exclusively with the control of RF/RHD.
Authors:
J S Thakur; P C Negi; S K Ahluwalia; R Sharma
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  World health forum     Volume:  18     ISSN:  0251-2432     ISO Abbreviation:  World Health Forum     Publication Date:  1997  
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1997-09-02     Completed Date:  1997-09-02     Revised Date:  2004-11-17    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8010746     Medline TA:  World Health Forum     Country:  SWITZERLAND    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  24-7     Citation Subset:  IM; J    
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology*
Child
Child, Preschool
Heart Defects, Congenital / epidemiology*
Humans
India / epidemiology
Mass Screening / organization & administration*
Prevalence
Rheumatic Heart Disease / epidemiology,  prevention & control*
School Health Services / organization & administration*
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
World Health Forum. 1998;19(1):90   [PMID:  9610250 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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