Prevention of acute rheumatic fever: current aspects

The program for the prevention of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and recurrent attacks of the disease includes primary and secondary prevention. The basis for the primary prevention of ARF are activities aimed at increasing the level of the body’s innate immunity and adaptive responses to adverse environmental conditions, as well as the timely diagnosis and adequate antimicrobial therapy of group A streptococcus throat infections, such as sore throat and pharyngitis. Secondary prevention aims to prevent recurrent attacks and disease progression in individuals who have experienced ARF and provides regular twenty-four-hour administration of long-acting penicillin (benzathine benzylpenicillin).