- Chorea (disease)
Infobox_Disease
Name = PAGENAME
| Lumps called Nodules may also form under the skin in bony areas. Lumps called Nodules may also form under the skin in bony areas. Lumps called Nodules may also form under the skin in bony areas. Caption =
DiseasesDB = 16662
ICD10 = ICD10|G|25|5|g|20
ICD9 = ICD9|333.5
ICDO =
OMIM =
MedlinePlus =
eMedicineSubj = neuro
eMedicineTopic = 62
MeshID = D002819Chorea sancti viti (Latin for "St. Vitus' dance") is an abnormal involuntary movement disorder, one of a group of neurological disorders called
dyskinesia s. The term "chorea" is derived from a Greek word "χορεία" (a kind of dance, see chorea), as the quick movements of the feet or hands are vaguely comparable to dancing orpiano playing.Presentation
Chorea is characterized by brief, irregular contractions that are not repetitive or rhythmic, but appear to flow from one muscle to the next.
These 'dance-like' movements of chorea (from the same root word as "choreography") often occur with
athetosis , which adds twisting and writhing movements. Lumps called nodules may also form under the skin in bony areas.Causes
Chorea can occur in a variety of conditions and disorders.
* Chorea is a primary feature ofHuntington's disease , a progressive, hereditary movement disorder.
* Twenty percent of children and adolescents withrheumatic fever developSydenham's chorea as a complication.
* Chorea may also be caused by drugs (levodopa ,anti-convulsant s,anti-psychotic s), metabolic disorders, endocrine disorders, and vascular incidents.Ballism
When chorea is serious, slight movements will become thrashing motions; this form of severe chorea is referred to as
ballism . Walking may become peculiar, and include odd postures and leg movements. Unlikeataxia anddystonia , which affect the quality of voluntary movements orparkinsonism , which is a hindrance of voluntary movements, the movements of chorea and ballism occur on their own, without conscious effort.Treatment
There is no standard course of treatment for chorea. Treatment depends on the type of chorea and the associated disease.
Although there are many drugs that can control Chorea, there is no known cure.
ee also
*
Movement disorder
*Choreoathetosis
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