Surveillance of Childhood Acute Rheumatic Fever (SCARF)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Surveillance of Childhood Acute Rheumatic Fever in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (SCARF)
IRAS ID
128479
Contact name
Mary Salama
Contact email
Research summary
Surveillance of Childhood Acute Rheumatic Fever (SCARF) aims to find out more about the rare condition acute rheumatic fever (ARF) in children in the United Kingdom (UK) and Republic of Ireland (RoI).
This is a condition where the body reacts to infection by a certain organism called group A streptococcus. It usually happens in children or young adults. This can cause immediate problems such as a rash, abnormal movements, joint swelling and pain and effects on the heart. It can also cause problems with the heart later in life particularly affecting the valves within the heart, which can alter how well the heart functions. This illness was very common before we had antibiotics to fight this infection. It is still present today but is now rarely seen. The aim of our study is to see how common it is now and whether the pattern of problems it causes has changed, both immediately and after a years time.
The British Paediatric Surveillance Unit (BPSU) have approved the methodology and they will be facilitating the data collection. It has the support of the Royal College of Paedaitrics and Child Health (RCPCH) as wellas the British Congental Cardiac Association (BCCA) and external experts in this field.
REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/WM/0412
Date of REC Opinion
21 Oct 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion