Completion time: approximately 60 minutes.

This activity is available on the Heart Foundation’s Health Professional Learning Hub. It provides information about acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease for people who work in community-based and health support roles. 

On completion of this program, participants will be able to

• describe the actions required to prevent the spread of Strep A infections. 
• describe acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.
• list the reasons why secondary prophylaxis (penicillin) injections are important following a diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever.
• identify strategies to support young people who have acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.

Topics include:

1. Introduction to acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease
2. Prevention of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease
3. Benzathine benzylpenicillin needles
4. Acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease – summary
5. Women and girls with rheumatic heart disease