Readers ask: What Is Saint Vitus Dance?

What is the disease called St Vitus dance?

Sydenham chorea, also known as St. Vitus dance, is a neuropsychiatric manifestation of rheumatic fever with an incidence varying from 5 to 35%. It may occur alone or concomitantly with other manifestations of rheumatic fever.

Where does the saying St Vitus dance come from?

The name St. Vitus Dance derives from the late Middle Ages, when persons with the disease attended the chapels of St. Vitus, who was believed to have curative powers. The disorder was first explained by the English physician Thomas Sydenham.

What causes Sydenham’s chorea?

Sydenham chorea is believed to be an autoimmune disorder. Most cases develop following a streptococcal infection or more severe rheumatic fever. An autoimmune disorder occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly reacts against healthy tissue.

Does Sydenham chorea go away?

The movements of Sydenham’s chorea are often not treated because the symptoms are so mild and the condition will most likely go away on its own after a few months. More severe cases, where the movements interfere with function, may be treated with medications.

Is Saint Vitus a girl?

St. Vitus was a Christian saint from Sicily. In the late Middle Ages, people in Germany and elsewhere celebrated the feast of St. Vitus by dancing before his statue, which led to him being considered the patron saint of dancers, actors and comedians (and epileptics).

Can chorea be cured?

For example, Sydenham’s chorea may be treatable with antibiotics. Huntington’s disease chorea can be treated with antipsychotic drugs, as well as other medications. Chorea due to Parkinson’s disease has no cure, but symptoms can be managed.

What does chorea feel like?

Chorea is a movement disorder that causes involuntary, irregular, unpredictable muscle movements. The disorder can make you look like you’re dancing (the word chorea comes from the Greek word for “dance”) or look restless or fidgety.

What is the meaning of chorea?

Definition. Chorea is an abnormal involuntary movement disorder, one of a group of neurological disorders called dyskinesias, which are caused by overactivity of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the areas of the brain that control movement.

How do you treat Sydenham’s chorea?

There is no specific treatment for Sydenham’s chorea and symptoms usually resolve themselves in approximately 3 to 6 months. Bed rest, sedatives and medication to control movements may be prescribed. Penicillin prophylaxis may also be prescribed to avoid further streptococcal infection.

Does chorea go away in sleep?

Overall, chorea can affect various body parts, and interfere with speech, swallowing, posture and gait, and disappears in sleep.

What causes chorea?

The most common acquired causes of chorea are cerebrovascular disease and, in the developing world, HIV infection —usually through its association with cryptococcal disease. Sydenham’s chorea occurs as a complication of streptococcal infection.

Does untreated strep always cause rheumatic fever?

About 5% of those with untreated strep infection will develop rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever may affect the heart, joints, nervous system and/or skin. In more than half of all cases, it leads to serious inflammatory disease of the valves of the heart.

How do Huntington patients die?

Patients with Huntington’s disease usually die 15-20 years after the symptoms first appear. The cause of death usually is a complication of Huntington’s, such as pneumonia, heart failure, or infection.

When does Huntington’s disease appear?

Symptoms of Huntington’s disease usually develop between ages 30 and 50, but they can appear as early as age 2 or as late as 80. The hallmark symptom of Huntington’s disease is uncontrolled movement of the arms, legs, head, face and upper body.

Can rheumatic fever cause mental illness?

Sydenham’s chorea, the late central nervous system expression of rheumatic fever, has been associated with higher rates of psychiatric disorders, such as obsessive- compulsive disorder (OCD), tic disorders, major depressive disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), than those found in comparison