In the recent weeks, four cases of severe rheumatic fever have been confirmed in Northland and a guideline has been issued to get sore throats treated without delay. Experts in Northland have said that it could be a sure case of undiagnosed Group A streptococcal throat infection, which in one to three percent of the cases can result in acute rheumatic fever (ARF).
Doctors recommend it is better to take a throat swab and consume a 10 day course of oral antibiotics as a safety measure against ARF.
Source-Medindia