Rheumatic fever chemoprophylaxis in adults

In 2340 adult patients above the age of 26 years with rheumatic valvular disease (RHD) seen since 1987, injection benzathine penicillin (once in 3 weeks) was discontinued and the patients were followed for evidence of rheumatic fever for a period of one to nine years (mean of 3 years). Recurrence of rheumatic fever was seen in 5 patients (0.21%). This study confirms that recurrence of rheumatic fever in patients with RHD above 26 years of age is very low and hence we recommend long term chemoprophylaxis to the patients above the age of 26 on an individual basis.