Prof. Fidelia Bode-Thomas, a Consultant Pediatric Cardiologist, on Thursday, warned that children could be predisposed to rheumatic heart disease from untreated or poorly treated sore throat.
Bode-Thomas, who works with Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Jos that “rheumatic heart disease is an acquired heart disease, following
complications from untreated or poorly treated sore throat caused by bacterium called group A streptococcus in children aged 5 to seventeen.”
She said that before the child develops heart complications, he or she will first come down with rheumatic fever which most people assume to be malaria.
She added that “the sore throat precedes the fever for about two weeks to six months.”
The rheumatic heart disease, she said, could cause permanent damage to the heart, destroying the heart valves and thus leading to heart failure.
According to the cardiologist, the best way to prevent rheumatic heart disease in children is to ensure that sore throat is treated properly.
“If your child receives prompt treatment with full course of antibiotic to eliminate the bacteria, and takes all medications as prescribed, there’s little chance of developing complications,” she said.
The consultant noted painful swallowing as notable symptom of sore throat.
Bode-Thomas lamented that most children who developed rheumatic heart disease were usually brought to the hospital late.
The damage, she said, would have already been done.
She, therefore, advised parents to watch out for symptoms of sore throat in children and
report to the nearest health facility promptly.
In addition, she advised parents to desist from self-medication as it might aggravate the situation. (NAN)