Sydenham chorea is a movement disorder that occurs with
rheumatic fever St. Vitus dance Causes, incidence, and risk
factors Sydenham chorea is a major sign of acute rheumatic
fever. The person may currently or recently have had the
disease. Sydenham chorea 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. Changes in handwriting
Jerky, uncontrollable, and purposeless movements that look like
twitches; the abnormal movements disappear during sleep Loss of
fine motor control, especially of the fingers and hands - Loss
of emotional control, with bouts of inappropriate crying or
laughing - Symptoms of rheumatic fever (See: Acute rheumatic
fever Signs and tests There may be a history of sore throat for
several weeks before Sydenham chorea. Blood tests that may show
signs of rheumatic fever include erythrocyte sedimentation rate
(ESR Different blood tests may be done to identify whether the
child may have a strep infection. A