SYDENHAM’S CHOREA: A CASE DESCRIPTION

Key words: Sydenham’s chorea, Clinical presentation, Therapy

An 11-year-old girl presented with a rapid onset of asymmetric chorea movements. Haloperidol was effective in controlling the chorea, and antibiotics were given for secondary prevention. Sydenham’s chorea is a manifestation of rheumatic fever and occurs after a throat infection by group A streptococci. The disease consists of a combination of choreic movements, hypotonia and emotional unstability. The clinical course can be quite diverse. Improvement usually occurs over a period of several months, although a significant proportion of patients show very slow improvement. Treatment options are discusse