Guide To The Types Of Chorea

Sydenham's Chorea

Sydenham's chorea is a type of chorea that occurs following a rheumatic fever or streptococcal infection. The pathophysiology of Sydenham's chorea is thought to involve the action of antibodies in the patient's immune system that has been induced by the streptococcus infection. This type of chorea is most common among adolescents and children. Sydenham's chorea can disrupt normal voluntary movements in an affected individual, which makes it challenging to perform basic everyday tasks like getting dressed and feeding oneself. Patients tend to experience specific symptoms such as abnormal gait, reduced verbal fluency, compulsions, obsessions, diminished muscle tone, slurred speech, dropping items frequently, spilling things frequently, dysfunction of the hands, and harlequin tongue. There is no biological or serological marker of this type of chorea, so diagnosis is made based upon a patient's clinical features. Some Sydenham's chorea patients may experience spontaneous remission of their symptoms, while others experience symptoms persistently.

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