OBJECTIVE: To analyze the frequency of patients with rheumatic fever admitted to Joana de Gusmão Children's Hospital, in Florianopolis, in southern Brazil, and their characteristics, between 1986 and 2006. METHODS: This observational, cross-sectional, descriptive and temporal study included patients with rheumatic fever admitted to a referral hospital during 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2006. Their medical records were reviewed and the following data were collected: age, sex, evidence of previous estreptococcal infection, clinical manifestations (revised Jones criteria) and outcome. RESULTS: There were 99 hospital admissions: 59 in 1986, 17 in 1991, eight in 1996, 12 in 2001 and three in 2006. The age group between five and 15 years was predominant and 51% of the sample was composed of boys. Elevated levels of antistreptolysin O antibody were found in 54% of the patients. Regarding Jones major manifestations, carditis was very frequent (73%), followed by arthritis (44%) and chorea (14%). Mitral insufficiency was the most observed valve disease and the percentage of heart failure among patients with carditis declined from 51% (1986) to zero (2006). Readmissions due to recurrence occurred in 31% of the cases, with one death. CONCLUSIONS: There was an expressive decrease in the number of patients with rheumatic fever admitted to the referral hospital. The decline in the percentage of heart failure over years suggests a less severe profile of the cases in recent years. The high number of recurrences suggests failures in secondary prophylaxis.
rheumatic fever; prevalence; hospitalization; carditis
