RHEUMATIC CHOREA IN CHILDREN - A REVIEW O F 54 CASES

Fifty-four cases of rheumatic chorea are reviewed. Ages ranged from fi ve to 14 years with a mean of 9 1/2 years. The sex ratio was 3.8. The diagnosis was based on presence of choreic movements with evidence of active rheumatic fever with or without carditis. Laboratory tests indi cated moderate inflammation in most instances, Two thirds of patients had positive tests for antistreptolysin O. Patients were kept in a qui et room and given penicillin and neuroleptics with or without corticos teroids. Choreic movements disappeared within one month in most cases, Twenty-five per cent of patients had one or more recurrences during t he first two years; ten patients had persistent cardiac involvement. P rophylaxis with penicillin was given routinely.