Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in developing countries.

Studies on the prevalence and other epidemiological features of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease and pilot prophylactic programmes have been carried out in India for the past 12 years or more. The results of these, together with data from other developing countries, have been taken into account in discussing the problems of these diseases in the developing world. Suggestions for their control, to be modified according to local conditions, are made.