Pediatric Rheumatic Fever & the Neuromuscular Complications of Sydenham’s Chorea

Sydenham’s chorea is a complication associated with the neuromuscular system. For children who suffer from Sydenham’s chorea, the cause and origin of the complication are not very clear, but are believed to be associated with a dopamine complication within the brain.

For children who suffer from severe cases of illness, such as rheumatic fever, the incidence of development Sydenham’s chorea is very high. Because rheumatic fever is a disease which results in inflammation of the throat, joints, heart and even damage to the heart valves, treating rheumatic fever is vitally important to avoiding the development of the acquired chorea complication known as Sydenham’s chorea.

How do you know if your child is suffering from Sydenham’s chorea, a secondary complication of rheumatic fever? Symptoms of Sydenham’s chorea usually appear, first, as a loss in motor function associated with a compromise to the neurological system. While your child may appear to make erratic and voluntary muscle movements, in Sydenham’s chorea, these muscle movements may actually be involuntary. Tremors and involuntary movements are most commonly seen in the facial muscles, arms and legs with walking and speech most commonly impaired.

Diagnosing Sydenham’s chorea involves first the diagnosis of the rheumatic fever complication and then, second, the evaluation by a neurologist who can determine to what extent your child’s muscle movement may be attributed to a case of Sydenham’s chorea. Seeking treatment early is the key to your child’s prompt diagnosis and resolution of symptoms.

If your child suffers from Sydenham’s chorea, attributed to a rheumatic fever illness, the symptoms and complications will usually dissipate as the infection is resolved; often taking a few weeks to completely resolve. However, in rare cases, your child may require prescription medications, such as diazepam, to control bodily movement and associated stress for as long as two years.

As with any bacterial infection, when your child begins to suffer from neuromuscular complications that do not seem to be normally expected with the illness, it is important to see a healthcare professional immediately. In the case of children who suffer from rheumatic fever, prolonging the medical attention may lead to abnormal demonstration of neuromuscular movement, often indicative of a child who may be suffering from a case of acquired chorea, also known as Sydenham’s chorea. With proper early intervention, the complications and infection of rheumatic fever can be resolved and, ultimately decrease the long term need for prescription medications to control the effects of Sydenham’s chorea.