Sydenham's chorea

noun

Syd·​en·​ham's chorea ˈsi-də-nəmz- 

variants or Sydenham chorea

: a chorea chiefly of children and adolescents that occurs following Group A streptococcal infection and is mainly a neurological manifestation of rheumatic fever and that is characterized especially by involuntary movements of the face, arms, legs, and trunk

called also Saint Vitus' dance

Word History

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

Sydenham's chorea

noun

Syd·​en·​ham's chorea ˈsid-ᵊn-əmz- 

variants or Sydenham chorea

: a chorea chiefly of children and adolescents that occurs following Group A streptococcal infection and is mainly a neurological manifestation of rheumatic fever and that is characterized especially by involuntary movements of the face, arms, legs, and trunk

called also Saint Vitus' dance