THE ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN THE COURSE OF ACUTE RHEUMATIC FEVER IN CHILDREN

Abstract

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is an autoimmune disease that develops in children following group A betahemolytic
streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes) infection and can complicate into rheumatic heart disease (RHD)
with cardiac involvement. This article examines the role of ecological and socio-economic factors in the distribution and
progression of ARF. Studies indicate that household overcrowding, poverty, poor hygiene, limited access to medical care,
and other factors such as skin infections and environmental tobacco smoke significantly increase disease risk. According
to the World Health Organization (WHO), RHD affects an estimated 55 million people and causes approximately
360,000 deaths annually, primarily in developing countries. The article proposes prevention measures based on sources
from WHO, PubMed, and The Lancet. These enriched data are particularly relevant in the context of Central Asia and
Uzbekistan, aiding efforts to reduce the disease burden.