Rheumatic fever in native children in Manitoba

From data reported to a central computer file, cases of rheumatic fever in persons under 17 years of age in Manitoba were reviewed. Although the overall incidence of the disease declined throughout the study period, Jan. 1, 1970 to July 1, 1979, the rates per 100 000 population were higher overall (36) and for non-natives (29) and much higher for natives (126) than average rates in urban centres around the world. Rates of death and readmission showed that the disease was also more severe in the native Manitoba children.