"Sydenham chorea, also referred to as chorea minor or historically as St. Vitus dance, is a manifestation of rheumatic fever."
"The condition is named after Thomas Sydenham (1624-1689), an English physician. He himself referred to it as "chorea minor". The historical name "St. Vitus Dance" derives from a "dancing plague" that occurred in Europe in the Middle Ages and involved large groups of people moving erratically and involuntarily. People would go to temples dedicated to St. Vitus and pray there in an effort to cure the plague, which was later diagnosed as Sydenham chorea."
"The condition is named after Thomas Sydenham (1624-1689), an English physician. He himself referred to it as "chorea minor". The historical name "St. Vitus Dance" derives from a "dancing plague" that occurred in Europe in the Middle Ages and involved large groups of people moving erratically and involuntarily. People would go to temples dedicated to St. Vitus and pray there in an effort to cure the plague, which was later diagnosed as Sydenham chorea."
"Sydenham chorea is thought to be an autoimmune process caused by antigenic mimicry between central nervous system basal ganglia cells and Group A beta-haemolytic Streptococcus antigens. Anti-basal ganglia antibodies attack these portions of the brain and are responsible for the pathological findings and symptoms."
"The underlying Streptococcus infection is treated with antibiotics 7. Chorea and other hyperkinetic movements can be managed with a range of medications such as neuroleptics (e.g. haloperidol, pimozide) and antiseizure medications (e.g. valproate) 7. The use of immunomodulatory treatment is sometimes employed, especially in severe cases 8, but without a strong evidence base 7."
"neuropsychiatric manifestations: cognitive and behavioural symptoms, including emotional lability, anxiety, depressive and obsessive-compulsive symptoms"