In New Zealand rheumatic fever mainly affects Maori and Pacific children/youth aged 4 to 19 years. That’s why we recommend that Maori and Pacific children and young people with a sore throat see a doctor or nurse to be checked out and given antibiotics if necessary.
There are a number of places in the Hutt Valley where sore throats can be checked out for free.
The location and times of the free sore throat clinics are listed below; or you can find the most up to date information on the Ministry of Health website for sore throat clinics.
Here’s some facts you may not know about rheumatic fever and how it starts.
- Rheumatic fever starts with a sore throat caused by a particular germ, called streptococcus or ‘strep’
- This germ commonly causes sore throats in people of all ages
- Usually the sore throat will go away on its own
- Unfortunately when some people get this throat infection, the body’s own defence, the immune system, goes into overdrive.
- Instead of fighting the germ, the immune system attacks part of the body, including the joints and the heart.
- This leads to rheumatic fever where the person feels very unwell and has severe joint pain, and needs to be admitted to hospital.
- The illness settles down but the damage to the heart can be permanent. This damage is called rheumatic heart disease.
In New Zealand rheumatic fever mainly affects Maori and Pacific children/youth aged 4 to 19 years. That’s why we recommend that Maori and Pacific children and young people with a sore throat see a doctor or nurse to be checked out and given antibiotics if necessary. Early antibiotic treatment of the sore throat will stop the overreaction of the immune system that leads to rheumatic fever.
Preventing rheumatic fever
Before a sore throat even starts, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the chance of infections spreading in families, schools and the community.
- Basic hygiene is important - handwashing and having clean towels or paper towels for drying hands.
- People with coughs and colds should stay home from school or work to avoid spreading their illness, and should always cover their cough or sneeze.
Rheumatic fever in Hutt Valley
Ten Hutt Valley people were diagnosed with rheumatic fever in 2013. Cases are more likely to occur in Taita, Naenae, Stokes Valley and Wainuiomata. People in cold, damp or overcrowded housing are at much greater risk of rheumatic fever because germs spread more easily in these conditions.
Regional Public Health is able to assess households where the doctor is concerned that there is an increased risk of rheumatic fever. This could be because someone in the house has already had rheumatic fever, or because of other diseases related to housing such as pneumonia or recurrent skin infections.
Public Health Nurses can advise on ways to improving the housing situation including writing to the landlord or linking the family into places such as the Sustainability Trust (for insulation and advice) or the Curtain Bank.
See the Regional Public Health website for more on their action on rheumatic fever.
Clinics offering free checks for children with sore throats
Naenae Medical Centre
(04) 567 1066
39 Treadwell St, Naenae
Mon-Fri - 8.30am - 5.00pm
Stokes Valley Medical Centre
(04) 563 8200
180 Stokes Valley Rd, Stokes Valley
Mon-Fri - 9.00am - 5.30pm
Taita Medical Centre
(04) 567 7390
1205 High St, Lower Hutt
Mon-Fri - 8.30am - 5.00pm
Stokes Valley Pharmacy
(04) 939 8409
190 Stokes Valley Rd, Stokes Valley
Mon-Fri 9.00am - 6.00pm, Sat 9.00am - 3.00pm
Unichem Owles Pharmacy
(04) 567 7523
45 Everest Ave, Naenae
Mon-Fri 8.30am - 6.00pm, Sat 9.00am - 1.00pm
Taita Pharmacy (04) 939 7793
1206 High St, Lower Hutt
Mon-Fri - 8.30am - 5.30pm, Sat 9.30am - 12.30 midday
After Hours Medical Centre
(04) 567 5345
729 High St, Lower Hutt
Mon-Fri 6.00pm - 11.00pm, Sat & Sun 8.00am - 11.00pm
