Light shines on hearty success

11 Dec 2023

SUCCESS achieved by a pair of Far North paediatric cardiology experts has been showcased at the World Congress on Rheumatic Heart Disease in Abu Dhabi.
Cairns Hospital Paediatric Cardiologist Dr Ben Reeves and Clinical Nurse Consultant Erin Ferguson have achieved great results with their “Happy Heart Clinic” for children with Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF) and Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD).
“Sadly, we have worldwide high rates up here. It is absolutely devastating to see children diagnosed with this entirely preventable disease, especially as we are in a well-resourced country,” Mrs Ferguson said.
“When a child is diagnosed with ARF or RHD they must have a Penicillin injection every 21-28 days, it’s very painful and it’s not uncommon for a child to refuse the treatment,” Mrs Ferguson said.
“The injection is vitally important – they must have it until they are at least 21 years of age, it prevents permanent damage to the heart.”
Methods implemented by the Happy Heart Clinic have resulted in numerous children who were previously refusing their injection, to accept the treatment.
“The number one thing that makes a difference for these children and keeps them coming back for treatment is showing them compassion and kindness. We take time and listen to our patients and give them lots of options for pain relief and distraction when getting the injection. That way the child feels much more control over their injection experience each month which results in good uptake of treatment. The hope is that this will set children up to be adults who have confidence in the health system.”
Mrs Ferguson and Dr Reeves were helped to travel to and present at the conference through the Woolworths and Children’s Hospital Foundation Easter Appeal and the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation.
Dr Reeves said not only were they able to present their own learnings, but also hear about new treatment options showing promise for the future which may be less traumatic.
“We also heard about parent support groups in Uganda which is very beneficial from a support perspective as it gives parents a voice to advocate on a larger scale,” Dr Reeves said.
Foundation CEO Gina Hogan said supporting the pair’s travel to the Congress was an important step.
“The Woolworths and Children’s Hospital Foundation Easter Appeal has previously supported Ben and Erin on their trip to the Cape and Torres to check the school children there for Rheumatic Heart Disease. A number of cases were identified including many that were previously unknown, so they can now start treatment programs,” Mrs Hogan said.
"Highlighting our collaborative efforts on a global platform is crucial, as it not only illuminates the innovative work, we are doing but also underscores the potential of these endeavours to deliver enhanced outcomes worldwide. The team, enriched with fresh ideas and advanced techniques from their experiences, is poised to extend this invaluable knowledge and aid to communities beyond our borders,” she said.
About ARF and RHD
ARF and RHD are massive problems in the Far North among our First Nations population. The area that Dr Reeves and Mrs Ferguson cover includes Cairns and Hinterland, the Cape and the Torres Straits. They have higher numbers of paediatric patients with ARF and RHD than the rest of Queensland combined. ARF can lead to RHD which is when the delicate valves of the heart become damaged. This can be catastrophic, causing heart failure and in severe cases, children need open heart surgery. Sadly, we are still seeing two deaths per week in Australia from this entirely preventable illness.
ARF starts from a very common Group A Strep infection which manifests as an infected sore throat or infected skin sore. Once a child has had ARF or RHD they are very prone to getting the infection and subsequent immune response back again. The treatment to prevent this is a long-acting Penicillin injection every 21- 28 days until the child is at least 21 years of age.

Photo: Cairns Hospital Paediatric Cardiologist Dr Ben Reeves and Clinical Nurse Consultant Erin Ferguson at the World Congress on Rheumatic Heart Disease in Abu Dhabi.

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