For professionals: Guidelines for acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease

RHD Australia, an initiative of the Menzies School of Health Research, led a comprehensive review of the 2nd Edition (2012) guidelines to develop the 2020 Australian guideline for prevention, diagnosis and management of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease (3rd edition).    

Access the Guidelines 

The revised guideline expands on previous editions to place people, families and communities with acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease at the centre of care. Health professionals are provided with additional information on:  

• Primary prevention  
• Diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever  
• Management of acute rheumatic fever  
• Diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease  
• Secondary prophylaxis  
• Management of rheumatic heart disease  
• Women and girls with rheumatic heart disease  
• Rheumatic heart disease control programs.  

New chapters include:  

• Culture and workforce  
• Burden of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease  
• Primordial prevention and social determinants of acute rheumatic fever  
• Screening for rheumatic heart disease  
• New technologies.   

A summary of the changes within the revised guideline can be found on pages 3-4 of the guide or the RHDAustralia website. 

Key information for quick reference can be found  here.   

Accessing the Guidelines  

• Print copies are available from RHDAustralia website.  Visit the RHDAustralia website to order your hard copy.   
• Key information from the guideline is available to access from your iPhone, iPad and Android phone for free using the ARF & RHD Guideline App.  

Information for your patients  

• The RHDAustralia website has information for patients, families and communities about prevention and treatment of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.