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Rheumatic Heart Disease

From sore throat to heart failure

Rheumatic fever is caused by an abnormal response to a bacterial infection, which usually begins as a sore throat or tonsillitis in children. Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) is an inflammatory disease that can affect many connective tissues, especially in the heart, joints, skin, or brain.
6 Active projects

Why is it a problem?

Why is it a problem?

Acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease are preventable illnesses.

Why is it a problem in New Zealand?

Despite many Western nations eliminating rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, we have unacceptably high rates of these illnesses in New Zealand. 

Compared to children of European or Other ethnic groups, Pasifika children are 115 times more likely and tamariki Māori are 46 times more likely to be hospitalised for ARF.

Did you know?

Over the past five years, there have been an average of 188 hospitalisations per year for acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in people younger than 20 years.

What are we doing to help?

In November 2020, Cure Kids committed more than $3 million over 3 years in an effort to prevent and treat, and ultimately, stomp out rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.

Improving services for Māori & Pasifika 

Dr Anneka Anderson, University of Auckland

Dr Anneka Anderson is piloting a patient-centred model of care to improve services for rangatahi Māori and Pasifika, by developing more appropriate ways to deliver monthly injections to prevent development of RHD.

Stronger hearts for Kiwi kids – better aortic valve replacements for children with RHD

Professor Massimo Caputo, visiting Professor at the University of Auckland and Starship Children Hospital

In New Zealand, Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) disproportionately affects Pasifika and Māori children and often leads to severe heart valve damage that requires high-risk surgery with prosthetic valves that can reduce life quality and expectancy.

'The Ozaki procedure', which is now being used at Starship Children’s Hospital, offers a promising alternative by using the patient’s own heart tissue. However, further research (this project) will greatly improve outcomes for these vulnerable Kiwi kids.

Matt Johnson
“My message is pretty simple, if you have a sore throat, go get it checked out. It could save your life.”
Matt Johnson

Meet Matt Johnson, a former midfielder for the Blues rugby team. Matt had rheumatic fever when he was 13 and has been experiencing severe heart problems ever since.

He’s had three open-heart surgeries, two aortic valve replacements and, most recently, severe complications from an infected valve and dislodged stent.

6 Active Rheumatic Heart Disease projects

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We are currently supporting over $16 million of child health research projects.

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