[Chorea subsequent to acute rheumatic fever in a 9-year-old girl].

Abstract

A nine-year-old girl had acute choreatic symptoms in her face and limbs, after a throat infection 6 weeks previously. On auscultation of the heart a systolic murmur was found and echocardiography showed mitral valve incompetence. There was a positive anti-deoxyribonuclease B titre in the serum, providing evidence of a previously contracted streptococcal infection. Both chorea and acquired carditis are major criteria for the diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever. The course was characterized--as it usually is--by spontaneous, gradual resolution of the symptoms. Protracted penicillin prophylaxis is indicated to prevent recurrence of acute rheumatic fever and cardiac valvular damage.

• Authors: C D Scheurer, A C Peters, A M van Furth
• Journal: Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde (Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd) Vol. 142 Issue 51 Pg. 2789-92 (Dec 19 1998) ISSN: 0028-2162 [Print] Netherlands
• Vernacular Title: Chorea op basis van acuut reuma bij een 9-jarig meisje.
• PMID: 10065246 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Topics

• Antibiotic Prophylaxis
• Child
• Chorea (etiology)
• Disease Progression
• Echocardiography
• Female
• Heart Murmurs (complications)
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Mitral Valve Insufficiency (complications, diagnosis)
• Pharyngitis (complications)
• Rheumatic Heart Disease (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Secondary Prevention
• Serology
• Streptococcal Infections (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy)