How To Treat Sydenham's Chorea

Use Of Anticonvulsants

The use of anticonvulsants in individuals affected by Sydenham's chorea may be needed when certain symptoms cannot be relieved with other methods. Anticonvulsants make up a wide group of medications that correct the abnormal way nerve impulses travel between the nerve cells that cause an individual to have seizures and exhibit involuntary movements. These medications help manage controlled impulse transmission through the nerve cells to stop events where an individual loses control of their movement. Valproic acid is an anticonvulsant medication that may be used in a Sydenham's chorea patient to treat their symptoms related to abnormal and uncontrollable movements. Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant medication that may be utilized in individuals with Sydenham's chorea to reduce the frequency of abnormal and involuntary movement symptoms. Because Sydenham's chorea is not a lifelong condition in most patients, it is recommended for the patient to slowly taper off these medications once they have been symptom-free for a minimum of one month.

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Antibiotic Treatment

An individual affected by Sydenham's chorea may need to undergo antibiotic treatment. Antibiotic treatment is often the first part of the treatment of a Sydenham's chorea patient. The idea behind the use of antibiotic treatment in affected individuals is to ensure the successful elimination of the group A streptococcus bacteria responsible for the initial rheumatic fever infection that caused the development of Sydenham's chorea. Some Sydenham's chorea patients may only need to undergo therapy with an antibiotic called penicillin on a prophylactic basis. Prophylactic penicillin therapy is a term that describes the use of penicillin to prevent bacterial growth or regrowth in the body. Other patients may need to be treated with high dose penicillin on an acute basis to treat their rheumatic fever and to eliminate the group A streptococcus bacteria from the body. It is appropriate to ensure the initial infection is resolved before treating the other symptoms associated with Sydenham's chorea unless they are life-threatening.

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