Syndeham Chorea from Rheumatic Fever

Hi,
My 8 year old daughter was recently diagnosed with Rheumatic Fever. We brought her into her doctor because we noticed that she was always fidgeting/couldn't sit still. Doctor took bloodwork and diagnosed her with RF. She also has Syndeham Chorea which is a manifestaion of RF. I wouldn't say that she has a severe case of Chorea since she is able to still attend school, but is worrying me to watch her constantly moving. I read about Chorea and it seems that the duration of this disease varies from website to webstite. I have read that it typcially lasts from 3 to 6 weeks upwards of many months. Can you give me an idea of how long this lasts? Does it depend on the severity of the Chorea?

Thanks,

Matty

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

The fidgeting/not sitting still is typical of chorea - a movement disorder caused by many things one of which is rheumatic fever

Most of the knowledge about the course of sydenhams chorea comes from groups of cases or personal experience, hence the variation in the details of the clinical course of the problem - the time frame of weeks to months is probably correct, but it is hard to predict which end of the curve a child is on, although mild symptoms should mean a shorter duration in general and a less severe problem

MRI may help in prognosis as some reports suggest that there are basal ganglia (the deep parts of the brain controlling movement) abnormalities in more severe cases.

Good luck