Gourt > Health > Conditions and Diseases > Neurological Disorders > Sydenham's Chorea
Sydenham's chorea (or "Rheumatic chorea") is a disease characterized by rapid, uncoordinated jerking movements affecting primarily the face, feet and hands. SC is reported to occur in 20-30% of patients with rheumatic fever (RHF) and is usually latent, occurring up to 6 months after the acute infection, but may sometimes be the primary diagnostic symptom of RHF. SC is more common in females than males and most patients are children, below 18 years of age. Adult onset of SC is comparatively rare and most of the adult cases are associated with exacerbation of chorea following childhood SC.
SC is characterised by the acute onset (sometimes a few hours) of motor symptoms, classically chorea, usually affecting all limbs. Other motor symptoms include facial grimacing, hypotonia, loss of fine motor control and a gait disturbance. Fifty percent of patients with acute SC spontaneously recover after 2 to 6 months whilst mild or moderate chorea or other motor symptoms can persist for up to and over 2 years in some cases. Sydenham's is also associated with psychiatric symptoms with obssessive compulsive disorder being the most frequent manifestation.
Movements cease during sleep, and the disease usually resolves after several months. It is associated with post-streptococcal rheumatic fever, pregnancy, hyperthyroidism, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
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Neurological Disorders
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Rheumatic fever: arthritis, carditis, rash, subcutaneous nodules, chorea (sydenham's)
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Rheumatic fever: arthritis, carditis, rash, subcutaneous nodules, chorea (sydenham's)
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Meta Description: [ A young child shares her experience with Sydenham's Chorea, a rare disorder associated
with rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease ]
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Meta Description: [ Your Online Health Destination. Free current health information, a health library, resources, daily medical news, drug information, articles, references, experts, support groups, real-time interactive tools, and more. ]
MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Sydenham Chorea - Also known as St. Vitus Dance. Includes symptoms, cause, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and prevention.
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Meta Description: [ Sydenham Chorea (St. Vitus' Dance) information sheet compiled by NINDS, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. ]
Research Links OCD and Streptococcal Infections - Article from the Psychiatric Times.
The Merck Manual: Sydenham's Chorea - A complication of rheumatic fever affecting the central nervous system. Includes cause, symptoms, duration, and treatment.
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