chorea

a disorder of the NERVOUS SYSTEM , characterized by involuntary jerky movements of the MUSCLES , mainly of the face, shoulders and hips. Sydenham's chorea (or Saint Vitus' Dance) is a disease that mainly affects children and is associated with acute RHEUMATISM . About one-third of affected children develop rheumatism elsewhere in the body, often involving the heart, and the disease is more common in girls than in boys. If the heart is affected, there may be problems in later life but treatment consists of rest and the giving of mild sedatives. The condition usually recovers over a period of a few months. Huntington's chorea is an inherited condition that does not appear until after the age of 40 and is accompanied by DEMENTIA . Senile chorea afflicts some elderly people but there is no dementia. See also RHEUMATIC FEVER .