St. Vitus dance
St. Vitus Dance St. Vitus Dance, also known as Sydenham's chorea, is a disorder characterized by rapid, uncoordinated jerking movements primarily affecting the face, hands, and feet. It is a neurological condition that is often associated with rheumatic fever, a complication of streptococcal infections such as strep throat.
History[edit | edit source]
St. Vitus Dance was first described in the 17th century and is named after St. Vitus, the patron saint of dancers. The condition was historically associated with outbreaks of mass hysteria and dancing mania in medieval Europe.
Causes[edit | edit source]
The primary cause of St. Vitus Dance is believed to be an autoimmune reaction following a streptococcal infection. The body's immune system mistakenly attacks the basal ganglia, a group of structures in the brain responsible for movement control.
Symptoms[edit | edit source]
Symptoms of St. Vitus Dance include:
- Rapid, involuntary movements of the face, hands, and feet
- Muscle weakness
- Emotional instability
- Difficulty with fine motor tasks
Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
Diagnosis of St. Vitus Dance is primarily clinical, based on the characteristic movements and a history of recent streptococcal infection. Additional tests may include:
- Blood tests for evidence of recent streptococcal infection
- MRI or CT scans to rule out other neurological conditions
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment for St. Vitus Dance focuses on managing symptoms and addressing the underlying infection. Options include:
- Antibiotics to treat the streptococcal infection
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Medications to control movement symptoms, such as anticonvulsants or antipsychotics
Prognosis[edit | edit source]
The prognosis for St. Vitus Dance is generally good, with most patients experiencing a full recovery within a few months. However, some individuals may have persistent symptoms or experience recurrences.
See Also[edit | edit source]
- Rheumatic fever
- Basal ganglia
- Autoimmune disorders
- Jones, T. D. (1944). "The Diagnosis of Rheumatic Fever." *Journal of the American Medical Association*.
- Swedo, S. E., Leonard, H. L., & Rapoport, J. L. (1994). "The Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infection (PANDAS) Subgroup: Separating Fact from Fiction." *Pediatrics*.
NIH genetic and rare disease info[edit source]
St. Vitus dance is a rare disease.
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
