Rūmātiki / Rheumatic Fever

Real Talk Rūmātīkī was launched July 2025 and aims to increase awareness about rheumatic fever amongst whānau Māori. The campaign continues to build strong traction across digital platforms, especially through Instagram (@realtalkrumatiki) and Facebook (Real talk Rūmātiki). A major driver of this success has been the engaging content created and shared by Latiyah Takimoana, whose videos have now reached over 468,000 views across Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. This wave of visibility is helping ensure rheumatic fever becomes a familiar term in everyday whānau Māori vocabulary. Many whānau are hearing about it for the very first time, which is a crucial step toward early recognition and prevention.

Campaign Contact

Paretapua.Tipene@tpoom.co.nz

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Important Information About Rūmātiki / Rheumatic Fever

What is Rheumatic Fever?

Rheumatic fever is an illness that can happen after a strep throat infection if it’s not treated properly with antibiotics. It can cause swelling and damage in the body, especially to the heart, and can lead to long-term heart problems.

In Aotearoa, Māori and Pacific children are much more likely to get rheumatic fever than non-Māori. This is often because of things like crowded housing and trouble getting to a doctor quickly. The best way to prevent it is to get sore throats checked and treated early, especially in tamariki. Making sure everyone has warm, dry homes and good access to healthcare also helps protect against it.

What are the symptoms?

The main symptom of a strep throat infection is a sore throat. In young children, signs of a sore throat can include:

finding it hard to swallow
having trouble eating or drinking.

The following symptoms of rheumatic fever can then develop 1-5 weeks after a person has had a strep throat infection:

Sore joints. This is the most common symptom of rheumatic fever. Joints may be red, swollen and feel hot. This often includes the hip, knees, elbows, ankles and wrists. Different joints may be sore on other days.
Sore joints may cause a limp or cause difficulty walking due to pain.
Shortness of breath — you may feel short of breath more easily than usual when you are active or exercising.
Unusual jerky movements of your hands, feet, tongue and face. This can look like fidgeting or being unable to sit still and can affect your handwriting. The movements stop during sleep.

If you or someone in your whānau has any rheumatic fever symptoms, get advice from your usual healthcare provider urgently.

Preventing rheumatic fever

Get sore throats checked quickly to prevent Strep A throat infections from developing into rheumatic fever.

There are lots of places you can have a sore throat checked:

You can go to your doctor or nurse. You may have to pay a fee; phone ahead to check.
Contact your local pharmacy to find out if they provide free sore throat checking.
Your child’s school may have a free sore throat checking programme – contact them to find out.
If a Strep A throat infection is diagnosed, antibiotics will be prescribed to prevent rheumatic fever and the full 10-day course of antibiotics need to be taken, even if you feel better.

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Living with rūmātiki / rheumatic fever

To prevent more episodes of rheumatic fever that can lead to rheumatic heart disease, it is important to stop further strep throat infections. This requires penicillin injections every 28 days for at least 10 years. These injections may be needed into adulthood.

If you or your tamariki and rangatahi have rheumatic fever you may also require:

Time off school
To reduce or stop exercise until your body has recovered — you should only return to normal activity when it is determined safe by your medical team
Regular dental checks and extra care of teeth and gums
An annual flu vaccine as well as your regular childhood and COVID-19 immunisations.

The flu vaccine is free for people who have rheumatic heart disease. Immunisations are important for people who have had rheumatic fever to prevent other illnesses which can affect heart health, like flu and COVID-19.