Get bicillin injections on time
Make sure your child gets their bicillin injections on time. If you are going to be away for the next due date of your child's bicillin injection, please let the nurse know. They will make sure your child is covered when they are away. If you are moving, don't forget to let your nurse know so they can make arrangements for your child.
Regular exercise
Encourage and support your child to keep active and exercise. Their healthcare professional will give advice about this.
Eat good foods
Because rheumatic fever can affect the heart, it's important to protect it. Encourage your child to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet.
If your child has rheumatic heart disease, some foods may interfere with their medicine, particularly warfarin. Please check with your child's heart specialist (cardiologist).
Warfarin Guide For Rheumatic Heart Disease
Quit smoking and vaping
Encourage everyone in your whānau to quit smoking and vaping, especially around your child.
The importance of warm, dry, healthy housing
Many illnesses, including acute rheumatic fever and respiratory tract infections, are linked to cold and damp homes that are poorly ventilated.
The Healthy Housing initiative is a free service that can discuss your housing situation and give support if needed. They can help you create a warm, safe and dry home, which can help keep your whānau well.
For more information on the Healthy Homes initiative, you could also talk to your child's nurse when your child has their bicillin injection.
Other parts of the journey
The rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease journey introduction
Taking care of my child's health after a diagnosis of rheumatic fever
A young person's rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease journey in pictures
What is rheumatic heart disease?
How will my child's rheumatic fever be managed?
What other ways can I look after my child's health after rheumatic fever? (You are here)
When can my child return to doing the things they enjoy after rheumatic fever?
Will my child need regular medical check-ups after rheumatic fever?
Looking after my child's mouth and gums after rheumatic fever
Will rheumatic fever affect my child's ability to have children in the future?
Acknowledgements
This information is adapted from the rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease booklet produced by the Rheumatic Fever Project Team, Te Whatu Ora - Counties Manukau, 2022.
References
Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease booklet (PDF, 9.94 MB). Te Whatu Ora - Counties Manukau, 2022.
