When six-year-old Dayna Sepiti had her throat swabbed as part of a routine sore throat and health check by a nurse at her primary school, her mum Fuatino Sepiti was shocked by the streptococcal infection result, as Dayna hadn’t been unwell.

By the time the lab results came back a few days later confirming positive Group A Streptococcus infection (that can lead to rheumatic fever if left untreated), Dayna had developed a cough which had spread to her four-year-old brother, Daniel.

“I’ve always thought that only kids that live in damp, mouldy and overcrowded homes are at risk for rheumatic fever. We live in a warm, dry home so I had lots of questions. The first thing I asked was how it could happen to us?”

While children living in crowded housing conditions and areas of socio-economic deprivation have the highest rates of rheumatic fever; it is an autoimmune disease that starts with ‘strep throat’ – a throat infection caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria. If strep throat is not treated with antibiotics it can cause rheumatic fever in children and the risk of getting rheumatic fever gets higher when someone has these repeated untreated throat infections.  

In Dayna’s case, her strep throat infection was possibly picked up at primary school through contact with other infected children.  

Unfortunately Dayna and Daniel suffered from recurring bouts of the illness which also spread to Fuatino, who was concerned for the health of her youngest son, Mason, who was only one-year-old at the time.

Treatment for the reoccurring Group A Strep throat bacteria included receiving a Bicillin (penicillin antibiotic) injection which Dayna and Daniel had to have twice. 

After spending months consulting with doctors, nurses and the children’s school, Fuatino has now managed to keep the Group A Strep throats away from her family through educating her children about hygiene and the risks of sharing food and drink bottles in particular. She also regularly gives her children probiotics which she credits for helping with their immunity, especially over the colder winter months.

Diagnosing and treating Group A Strep throats early will mean that more vulnerable children like Dayna and Daniel can avoid the dangerous consequences caused by rheumatic fever. 

Thanks to the generosity of our community, this new Mobile Health Clinic is now out and about on the North Shore and West Auckland, swabbing throats to prevent rheumatic fever. 

This new clinic will ensure that more vulnerable children like Dayna and Daniel will receive the diagnosis and treatment they need before it’s too late. 

The Well Foundation relies on donations from people like you so we can advance healthcare in our local community.

Last year, we successfully fundraised for our first new Mobile Health Clinic which has been in the community performing free ear check-ups and treatments and has already seen hundreds of patients. 

Fundraising is nearly complete for a third Mobile Health Clinic, which will provide dental services to the community. 

Until next time, go well.