Clinical profile of paediatric patients with rheumatic heart disease at Moi Teaching And Referral Hospital (MTRH), Eldoret, Kenya

Abstract

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the commonest acquired heart disease and a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children in developing countries. This study sought to determine the clinical profile of paediatric patients with RHD at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), Eldoret, Kenya. It employed a cross sectional study in the general peadiatric wards, paediatric outpatient clinic and cardiology clinic at the MTRH. The study subjects were children with RHD aged 3 to 15 year. In total, eighty four children (28 boys and 56 girls) with RHD were enrolled. Data was collected in a structured questionnaire and analyzed using Genstat discovery. The study found that the commonest symptoms among new patients were dyspnea, easy fatigability, palpitation, cough and orthopnea while the commonest signs were a systolic murmur, a thrill and tachycardia. Most new patients presented in NYHA class 3 and 4. Mitral regurgitation alone was the commonest lesion, followed by mitral regurgitation + aortic regurgitation. New patients had clinical evidence of severe valvular disease and complication implying late presentation. It is thus recommended that emphasis should be put on early detection and primary prevention as most new patients have severe disease.