Sydenham Chorea

What is Sydenham chorea?

Sydenham chorea (SC) is a movement disorder that mainly affects children. SC happens after a strep throat infection, when the immune system mistakenly attacks brain cells that control movement of arms and legs, and sometimes the face. 

SC is very rare in places like the United States because strep throat is usually treated quickly with antibiotics. In many parts of the world where access to healthcare is limited, SC is more common because untreated strep throat can lead to rheumatic fever, a more serious condition that can affect the brain and heart.

A child may have had symptoms of strep throat, like a sore throat or a fever, weeks to months before SC symptoms appear. 

Symptoms of SC

SC affects body movement and can cause:

• Unsteady or awkward movements
• Weak muscles
• Trouble walking or balancing
• Trouble speaking clearly
• Trouble focusing or writing
• Trouble managing emotions

SC symptoms can interfere with daily life, but most children improve over time. Many children recover completely. Symptoms often last weeks to months, and in some cases they can come back.

Who is more likely to get Sydenham chorea?

Children between the ages of 5 and 15 years who have recently had a strep throat infection are at risk for SC. SC affects girls more often than boys.

How is Sydenham chorea diagnosed and treated?

Diagnosing SC

A doctor diagnoses SC based on a child’s symptoms and health history. They often ask about past strep throat infections, even if the infection happened weeks or months earlier. Many parents are surprised by this connection because the sore throat or fever is usually long gone by the time movement symptoms start. Doctors can also use blood tests to look for signs of a recent strep infection, even if the infection has already gone away.

Learn more about neurological diagnostic tests and procedures.

Treating SC

Early treatment of a strep throat infection helps prevent SC. When SC does happen, symptoms are often mild and manageable with rest and, in some cases, medicines that help control immune system activity.

What are the latest updates on Sydenham chorea?

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), which includes NINDS, is the leading federal funder of research on the brain and nervous system, including disorders such as SC. NIH supports new research to better understand, diagnose, and treat SC. 

For more information on research about SC, check NIH RePORTER, a searchable database of current and past research projects funded by NIH and other federal agencies. RePORTER also has links to publications and resources from these projects. 

For research articles and summaries on SC, search PubMed, which contains citations from medical journals and other sites.

How can I or a loved one improve care for people with Sydenham chorea?

Consider participating in a clinical trial so clinicians and scientists can learn more about SC and related disorders. Clinical research with human study participants helps researchers learn more about a disorder and perhaps find better ways to safely detect, treat, or prevent disease.

All types of participants are needed—those who are healthy or may have an illness or disease—of all different ages, sexes, races, and ethnicities. This helps make sure that study results apply to as many people as possible and that treatments will be safe and effective for everyone who will use them.

For information about participating in clinical research visit the NINDS Clinical Trials site and NIH Clinical Research Trials and You. Learn about clinical trials currently looking for people with SC at ClinicalTrials.gov, a searchable database of current and past clinical studies and research results.