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Sydenham chorea - Overview

Alternative Names

St. Vitus dance

Definition of Sydenham chorea:

Sydenham chorea is a movement disorder that occurs with rheumatic fever.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Sydenham 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.

Reviewed last on: 9/22/2008
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.

References

Gerber 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.

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