Abstract
In a selected population (99 members of 14 families in which 2 or more individuals had suffered with evidences of rheumatic fever), the disease spread particularly to the younger members of the family, and was largely distributed throughout the age group 5-12, reaching its peak at about the age of 7. Among children 5-12 yrs. old, who apparently had not previously suffered from any manifestations of the disease, rheumatic fever was acquired in association with familial exposure, at the rate of 25-35%. Among children 5-12 yrs. old, who had survived an initial attack, recurrences were noted in association with familial exposure at the rate of 35-60%, decreasing as age increased, but representing a markedly enhanced susceptibility during adolescence.

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