Rheumatic Fever Follow-up Study (RhFFUS) _ determining the optimal clinical response for minor heart valve abnormalities in an Indigenous Australian setting

急性风湿热（ARF）和风湿性心脏病（RHD）是澳大利亚土著人的主要健康问题。在先前的一项研究中，原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民儿童的心脏超声检查经常显示可疑的但不是诊断性的变化。RhFFUS（风湿热随访研究）旨在观察这些变化是否与ARF和进展为RHD的高风险相关。如果是这样的话，这些高危儿童可以更早被发现，并定期使用抗生素来预防这种心脏病。

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) are a major health issue for Indigenous Australians. In a previous study heart ultrasounds in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children frequently showed suspicious but not diagnostic changes. RhFFUS (Rheumatic Fever Follow-Up Study) aims to see if these changes are associated with a higher risk of ARF and progression to RHD. If this is the case these high risk children could be identified earlier and offered regular antibiotics to prevent this cause of heart disease.