"St. Vitus' dance," or Sydenham's chorea, is a movement disorder, primarily affecting children, characterized by jerky, involuntary movements of the face, limbs, and trunk, often accompanied by emotional lability and speech difficulties.
Here's
a more detailed explanation:
Involuntary Movements (Chorea):The hallmark of Sydenham's chorea is the presence of chorea, which are rapid, irregular, and aimless movements that can affect the face, limbs (arms, legs), and trunk.
Motor Symptoms: Jerky Movements: These movements can look like twitches or jerks and can affect different parts of the body.
Loss of Fine Motor Control: Difficulty with fine motor skills like handwriting, buttoning clothes, or holding objects can occur.
Gait Disturbances: Walking can become unsteady or irregular, with the legs suddenly giving way or flicking out to one side.
Dysarthria: Difficulty with speech, including slurred or unclear speech, can also occur.
Psychological Symptoms:
Emotional
Lability: Rapid shifts in mood, including bouts of crying or laughing, can
occur.
Irritability
and Anxiety: Children with Sydenham's chorea may experience increased
irritability, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating.
Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms: Some children may exhibit obsessive-compulsive behaviors or thoughts.
Other
Symptoms:
Facial
Grimacing: Involuntary movements of the facial muscles can cause
grimacing.
Tongue
Chorea: Involuntary movements of the tongue can also occur.
Milkmaid's Grip: A fluctuating grip strength, where the patient may have difficulty maintaining a steady grip.
Cause: Sydenham's chorea is often a complication of rheumatic fever, which is caused by a bacterial infection (group A streptococcus) that can lead to an autoimmune response.
Treatment: Treatment typically involves addressing the underlying rheumatic fever infection with antibiotics and may include medications to manage the involuntary movements and emotional symptoms.
Course and Prognosis: Sydenham's chorea usually resolves within a few weeks or months, and most children make a full recovery.
Sydenham's chorea – Wikipedia- There is usually a loss of fine motor control, which is particularly obvious in handwriting if the child is of school age. Speech ...
Wikipedia
- Sydenham's Chorea - St Vitus' Dance - Brain Foundation
Sydenham's chorea is a disorder affecting children and characterized by jerky, uncontrollable movements of the muscles of the face...
Brain
Foundation
More than just the movement disorder "St. Vitus' dance" – DZNE Involuntary twitching movements of the head, arms, legs and hands, but also of the trunk, up to a characteristic dance-like gait:
"St. Vitus's dance," a term for the neurological disorder Sydenham's chorea, originated in the Middle Ages from a belief that people afflicted with erratic movements were cursed by Saint Vitus, a Christian saint, and that seeking his intercession could cure them.
Here's a more detailed look at the history of "St. Vitus's dance":
Medieval
Origins:
The
term "St. Vitus's dance" emerged during the Middle Ages in Europe,
where outbreaks of "dancing mania" or "dancing plague"
occurred.
People
who experienced uncontrolled, erratic movements were believed to be suffering
from a divine curse or demonic possession.
The
name "St. Vitus's dance" came from the belief that Saint Vitus, a
Christian martyr, had the power to cure these afflictions.
People would go to chapels dedicated to St. Vitus and pray for a cure.
Dancing Mania Outbreaks: One of the most famous outbreaks occurred in Strasbourg in 1518, where people danced uncontrollably for days, sometimes until they collapsed or died. Other outbreaks were reported in various parts of Europe, including Aachen in 1374. The dancing mania was often accompanied by other symptoms, such as hallucinations and seizures.
Contemporary Explanations: While the dancing mania was initially attributed to supernatural causes, modern medical explanations suggest that it may have been a form of mass psychogenic illness or a manifestation of ergot poisoning. Ergot is a fungus that grows on rye and can produce toxins that cause hallucinations and convulsions. Sydenham's chorea, a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary movements, is now recognized as a manifestation of rheumatic fever and is often associated with the term "St. Vitus's dance".
Saint Vitus and His Role: Saint Vitus is considered the patron saint of dancers and people with nerve afflictions. The name "St. Vitus's dance" is a testament to the historical association between the saint and the dancing mania outbreaks.
https://www.google.com/search?q=st+vitus+dance+history
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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