RT Journal
A1 Morton W, Arnold RC
T1 HEart disease screening in elementary school children
JF Journal of the American Medical Association
JO Journal of the American Medical Association
YR 1959
FD March 14
VO 169
IS 11
SP 1163
OP 1168
DO 10.1001/jama.1959.03000280015005
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1959.03000280015005
AB A screening program for the purpose of estimating the prevalence rates for congenital and rheumatic heart disease was carried out among 6,311 children between the ages of 6 and 11 years. Among 165 children thus identified as requiring further study, a secondary program of examinations was carried out. The abnormalities discovered included 33 cases of congenital and 7 of rheumatic heart disease. The study revealed 29 cases of previously unrecognized cardiac abnormality but also relieved at least 15 children of a false diagnosis of heart disease. It was valuable not only in assuring some children of needed treatment but also in determining the diagnostic value of various physical findings.