What does St. Vitus dance mean?

Sydenham chorea, also called St. Vitus Dance, chorea minor, infectious chorea, or rheumatic chorea, a neurological disorder characterized by irregular and involuntary movements of muscle groups in various parts of the body that follow streptococcal infection.

What is St. Vitus dance called now?

We start with a disease originally known as St. Vitus dance but is now called Sydenham chorea. This childhood movement disorder is an inflammatory response to strep throat or rheumatic fever and is characterized by rapid, involuntary, irregular movements of all muscles except those that move the eyes.

Is there such a thing as Saint Vitus dance?

Sydenham’s chorea, also known as chorea minor and historically and occasionally referred to as St Vitus’ dance, is a disorder characterized by rapid, uncoordinated jerking movements primarily affecting the face, hands and feet.

How long did St. Vitus dance last?

Vitus’ Dance, back in 1374, groups of people — sometimes thousands at a time — started dancing uncontrollably. It continued for days, and in some cases, weeks and months. Some people reportedly danced until they collapsed from exhaustion or even death, while others suffered heart attacks and broken bones.

Is there a cure for St. Vitus dance?

Treatment. There is no specific treatment for Sydenham’s chorea and symptoms usually resolve themselves in approximately 3 to 6 months. Bed rest, sedatives and medication to control movements may be prescribed. Penicillin prophylaxis may also be prescribed to avoid further streptococcal infection.

Is St. Vitus dance the same as Huntington’s disease?

HD History HD was known as Huntington’s chorea and Saint Vitus’s dance in the past.

What illness is St. Vitus dance?

Sydenham chorea, also known as St. Vitus dance, is a neuropsychiatric manifestation of rheumatic fever with an incidence varying from 5 to 35%. It may occur alone or concomitantly with other manifestations of rheumatic fever.

What illness is Saint Vitus dance?

Is Huntington’s disease the same as St. Vitus dance?

Why is St. Vitus a saint?

VITUS, the son of a pagan Sicilian senator, was converted to Christianity by his nurse and later martyred. He became the patron saint of nervous disorders for casting an evil spirit out of the son of the Emperor Diocletian.

Is St. Vitus dance curable?

Does Sydenham chorea go away?

Sydenham chorea symptoms usually resolve within three weeks to six months. However, symptoms may last longer than one year.