Living with Sydenham chorea
A nervous system condition in children, with jerky, uncontrolled movements that follows a strep infection.
Understanding Sydenham chorea
Muscle weakness, slurred speech, headaches, and seizures can also occur. Children often have emotional or behavior changes such as obsessive-compulsive behavior, distractibility, and sudden laughing or crying. It mostly affects children and teens and usually follows a strep infection by 1 to 8 months. It is one of the major signs of acute rheumatic fever. Movements are worse with stress, tiredness, or excitement. It usually resolves within 3 weeks to 3 months.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Jerky, irregular movements (chorea)
- Face grimacing
- Slurred speech
- Mood swings and irritability
- Obsessive-compulsive behavior
- Unsteady walk
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Global Autoimmune Institute may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Global Autoimmune Institute
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Global Autoimmune Institute
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
It usually follows a Streptococcal infection by 1 to 8 months and is one of the major signs of acute rheumatic fever.
Also known as: chorea minor; rheumatic chorea; sydenham's chorea
Patient organizations
- Global Autoimmune InstituteSydenham chorea · United States
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Perspectives from people navigating life with Sydenham chorea.
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