It is an allergic reaction to streptococcal infection, such as meningitis, some forms of pneumonia, and scarlet fever. Sydenham's chorea commonly follows several months after an attack of rheumatic fever and is most likely to occur in children between the ages of 5 and 15. The symptoms of Sydenham's chorea include facial contortions, grunts, and occasional difficulty in speaking. Sometimes only one side of the body is affected.
Bed rest is essential.
Sedative drugs help to control the involuntary contortions, and antibiotic drugs are usually prescribed to fight infection. The disease is often treated with high dosages of aspirin. Recovery may be complete within 3 or 4 months, but further attacks occur in about 30 percent of cases.