National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Sydenham's chorea


Other Names:
St. Vitus dance; Sydenham chorea; Rheumatic chorea
Sydenham's chorea is a neurological disorder characterized by rapid, jerky, irregular, and involuntary movements (chorea), especially of the face and limbs.[1][2] Additional symptoms may include muscle weakness, slurred speech, headaches, and seizures. Children with Sydenham's chorea often have emotional or behavioral problems such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, distractibility, irritability, and inappropriate outbursts of laughing or crying.[2] Sydenham's chorea mostly affects children and adolescents and usually follows a Streptococcal infection by anywhere form 1-8 months.[1][2] Sydenham's chorea is one of the major clinical signs of acute rheumatic fever.[2]  The uncontrolled movements are often worse during periods of stress, fatigue, or excitement. In some cases, only one side of the body is affected. Sydenham's chorea usually resolves within 3 weeks to 3 months. However, symptoms may last longer in some cases.[1]
Last updated: 7/9/2015

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Chorea 0002072
Dysarthria
Difficulty articulating speech
0001260
Emotional lability
Emotional instability
0000712
Facial grimacing 0000273
Generalized hypotonia
Decreased muscle tone
Low muscle tone
[ more ] 		0001290
Headache
Headaches
0002315
Hemiballismus 0100248
Inappropriate behavior 0000719
Irritability
Irritable
0000737
Movement abnormality of the tongue 0000182
Obsessive-compulsive behavior
Obsessive compulsive behavior
0000722
Unsteady gait
Unsteady walk
0002317
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Endocarditis 0100584
Erythema 0010783
Recurrent streptococcus pneumoniae infections 0005366
Septic arthritis 0003095
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Last updated: 7/1/2020
In most cases, patients with Sydenham's chorea recover fully with no treatment. Drugs that have been used to treat patients with significant movement problems include corticosteroids, valproic acid, diazepam, chlorpromazine, and carbamazepine. In patients who do not respond to these drugs, haloperidol or pimozide may be used. In addition, patients with Sydenham's chorea are usually treated with antibiotics to prevent another Streptococcal infection and to minimize the risk of rheumatic heart disease. Sydenham's chorea usually resolves within 12-15 months, though symptoms may persist for two years or more. Up to 30% of patients experience a recurrence of Sydenham's chorea within a few years. Some believe that treatment with an antibiotic reduces the risk of recurrence.[2]
Last updated: 7/10/2015

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Sydenham's chorea. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Patient Registry

  • The Autoimmune Registry supports research for Sydenham's chorea by collecting information about patients with this and other autoimmune diseases. You can join the registry to share your information with researchers and receive updates about participating in new research studies. Learn more about registries.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.
  • The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) (NINDS) collects and disseminates research information related to neurological disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
  • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Orphanet is a European database for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs.
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Sydenham's chorea. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

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  1. Okun, Michael. Sydenham Chorea. National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). 2010; https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/sydenham-chorea/.
  2. Cruse, Robert. Sydenham chorea. UpToDate. April 29, 2014; http://www.uptodate.com/contents/sydenham-chorea.