Sydenham’s chorea in a Nigerian girl: A case report

Abstract

Sydenham chorea is a major manifestation of Rheumatic fever (RF). Chorea occurs primarily in children and is rare after the age of 20 years. Females are more often affected and it almost never occurs in post-pubertal males. Sydenham’s chorea is characterized by emotional lability, uncoordinated and erratic movements, and muscular weakness. The choreiform movements can be a source of irritation or a severe functional disability to the individual requiring appropriate management. The rarity of documentation of SC in sub-Saharan Africa raises the possibility of missed or misdiagnosis. We present the case of a 13 year old girl whose SC was initially misdiagnosed and conclude that though uncommon in Sub-Saharan Africa, SC requires proper diagnosis and prompt medical attention.