Sydenham chorea is a movement disorder that occurs with rheumatic fever.
Alternative NamesSt. Vitus dance
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsSydenham chorea is one of the major signs of acute rheumatic fever. It is discussed here separately because it may be the only sign of rheumatic fever in some patients.
Sydenham chorea occurs most often in girls before puberty, but may be seen in boys.
SymptomsThere may be a history of sore throat for several weeks before Sydenham chorea.
Blood tests that may show signs of rheumatic fever include erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
Different blood tests may be done to identify whether the child may have a strep infection.
TreatmentAntibiotics are given against streptococci, the bacteria that cause rheumatic fever. The health care provider may prescribe preventive antibiotics (antibiotic prophylaxis).
Supportive care is given as necessary to control symptoms of Sydenham chorea, especially the constant movements. Sedation may be advised in severe cases.
Expectations (prognosis)Sydenham chorea usually clears up in a few months. In rare cases, an unusual form of Sydenham chorea may begin later in life.
ComplicationsNo complications are expected.
Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if your child develops uncontrollable or jerky movements, especially if the child has recently had a sore throat.
PreventionPay careful attention to children's complaints of sore throats and get early treatment to prevent acute rheumatic fever. If there is a strong family history of rheumatic fever, be especially watchful, because your children may be more likely to develop this infection.
ReferencesGerber MA. Group A streptococcus. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 182.
Sydenham chorea is a movement disorder that occurs with rheumatic fever.
Alternative NamesSt. Vitus dance
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsSydenham chorea is a major sign of acute rheumatic fever. The person may currently or recently have had the disease. Sydenham chorea may be the only sign of rheumatic fever in some patients.
Sydenham chorea occurs most often in girls before puberty, but may be seen in boys.
SymptomsThere may be a history of sore throat for several weeks before Sydenham chorea.
Blood tests that may show signs of rheumatic fever include erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
Different blood tests may be done to identify whether the child may have a strep infection.
TreatmentAntibiotics used to kill the bacteria that cause rheumatic fever. The doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent future rhematic fever infections. This is called preventive antibiotics, or antibiotic prophylaxis.
Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. Sedation may be needed in severe cases.
Expectations (prognosis)Sydenham chorea usually clears up in a few months. In rare cases, an unusual form of Sydenham chorea may begin later in life.
ComplicationsNo complications are expected.
Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if your child develops uncontrollable or jerky movements, especially if the child has recently had a sore throat.
PreventionPay careful attention to children's complaints of sore throats and get early treatment to prevent acute rheumatic fever. If there is a strong family history of rheumatic fever, be especially watchful, because your children may be more likely to develop this infection.
ReferencesBisno AL. Rheumatic fever. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 313.
Lang A. Other movement disorders. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 434.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 09/28/2010
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Sydenham's chorea is a disorder that occurs in children and is associated with rheumatic fever.
Most patients with Sydenham's chorea recover after a period of bed rest and temporary limitation of normal activities. I
Chorea gravidarum or chorea occurring in the first three months of pregnancy. It is most likely to affect women who had rheumatic fever or Sydenham's chorea in childhood.
Most patients with Sydenham's chorea recover after a period of bed rest and temporary limitation of normal activities. In most cases, the symptoms disappear gradually rather than stopping abruptly.
Some children develop psychiatric symptoms associated with Sydenham's chorea before the physical symptoms appear. They may start acting unusually restless, aggressive, or hyperemotional.
The basic cause of Sydenham's chorea is infection with GAS bacteria, which are usually transmitted from person to person through large droplets produced by coughing or sneezing, or by direct contact.
When i had it the doctor`s told my parents it could but i survived.
St. Vitus Dance, "Chorea sancti viti," also known as Sydenham's Chorea. St. Anthony's Fire, or Ergotism, poisoning by the ergot fungus.
Chorea
Thomas Sydenham (1624-89) pioneered the treatment of malaria using quinine, which was found in cinchona bark. He also documented the symptoms of diseases including scarlet fever, measles, chorea, and gout.
ARF is characterized by fever, arthritis in one or more joints, and carditis, or inflammation of the heart. In about 20% of patients, however, Sydenham's chorea is the only indication of ARF.
A neurologic complication of rheumatic fever triggered by a throat infection (pharyngitis) caused by particular strains of bacteria known as group A beta-hemolytic streptococci or as GAS bacteria.