STUDIES OF AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL CHILDREN: STREPTOCOCCAL INFECTION, HEART REACTIVE ANTIBODY AND SUBCLINICAL RHEUMATIC CARDITIS

SYNOPSIS Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rates in Australian Aboriginal school children in Queensland indicated a significant incidence of chronic active inflammation. The characteristics of the abnormal group, when compared with suitable controls, were relative retardation of growth, enteric parasites, respiratory infections, elevated serum immunoglobulins G and M, and high carrier rates of group A steptococci. Associated findings suggest that subclinical chronic rheumatic carditis is present in a large number of Aboriginal school children.