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Sydenham Chorea
Alternate Names : St. Vitus Dance
Definition A movement disorder associated with rheumatic fever.
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Sydenham chorea is one of the major signs of acute rheumatic fever. It is discussed here as a separate entity because it may be the only sign of rheumatic fever in some patients.
The movements seen in Sydenham chorea are involuntary, jerky, and purposeless. They are not rhythmic and occur sporadically in different muscle groups. For example, a sitting child might suddenly have an arm jerk upward followed by a leg extension, then a head nod. The movements occur in such a way that the child is constantly in motion and seems to be twitching everywhere.
Fine motor control becomes difficult, and handwriting may change dramatically.
Sydenham chorea occurs most frequently in prepubescent girls but may be seen in boys.
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- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Neurologic Disorders
- Seizure Disorders
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Jump to another section
• Definition
• Sydenham Chorea Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
• Sydenham Chorea Symptoms & Signs
• Sydenham Chorea Prevention
• Sydenham Chorea Diagnosis & Tests
• Sydenham Chorea Treatment
• Sydenham Chorea Prognosis
• Sydenham Chorea Complications
• Calling Your Health Care Provider
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Rheumatic Fever
Tests & Exams
• ASO Titer
• C-Reactive Protein
• ECG
• Echocardiogram
• ESR
• Streptococcal Screen
Other Topics
• Acute
• Fine Motor Control
• Movement - Unpredictable or Jerky
• Muscle Cramps
• Sore Throat
Review Date : 7/28/2002
Reviewed By : Elaine T. Kiriakopoulos, M.D., MSc, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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