The Northland rheumatic fever register

A rheumatic fever register retrospective to 1969 was established in Northland during 1980-81 from hospital discharge diagnoses and general practitioner sources. Since 1981 the register has been regularly maintained and updated. From January 1969 to June 1981 303 patients were identified in whom acute rheumatic fever had been diagnosed, but only 218 met the modified Jones criteria. Four others had first presented with rheumatic heart disease without a past record of rheumatic fever. For those aged under 20 the cases on the register represent an annual incidence per 100 000 of 23.6 for non-Maoris and 115.9 for Maoris. There were 106 recurrent attacks recorded during this period amongst 307 patients, with a significantly higher rate from Maoris (p = 0.001). There was a great variation in the period for which prophylaxis was prescribed.