Sydenham chorea
one form that just involves one side of the body (hemichorea), another form that involves muscular rigidity (termed paralytic chorea), etc. Sydenham chorea is also known as acute chorea, chorea minor, juvenile chorea, rheumatic chorea and postrheumatic chorea.
The word “chorea” refers to ceaseless rapid complex body movements that look well coordinated and purposeful but are, in fact, involuntary. Chorea was thought suggestive of a grotesque dance. The term “chorea” is derived from the Greek word “choreia” for dancing (as is choreography).
Thomas Sydenham (1624-1689) first described the condition. Sydenham left Oxford to fight in the English Civil Wars during which he met Thomas Coxe, a physician serving in the army, who inspired him to enter medicine. At the age of 38 he was licensed by the College of Physicians of London to practice medicine full-time and at 52 years of age he belatedly received his M.D. degree from Cambridge. He is considered the “English Hippocrates.”
Sydenham chorea was also called St. Vitus dance.
Read Also:
- Sydenham, Thomas
(1624-1689) Great English physician who has been called the “English Hippocrates” and the “father of English medicine.” Sydenham left Oxford to fight in the English Civil Wars during which he met Thomas Coxe, a physician serving in the army, who inspired him to enter medicine. At the age of 38 he was licensed by the […]
- Sylvatic plague
A type of plague that is spread by ground squirrels and other wild rodents. Sylvatic plague is sometimes seen in the western portion of the US.
- Sylvius, aqueduct of
A canal between the third and fourth ventricles in the brain within the system of four communicating cavities that are continuous with the central canal of the spinal cord. The ventricles are filled with cerebrospinal fluid, which is carried by the aqueduct of Sylvius.
- Symbol of medicine
A staff or a rod with a snake curled around it; the staff of Aesculapius, also called Asklepios, the ancient mythical god of medicine. For more information, see; Medical symbol.
- Symmetric lipomatosis, multiple
A disorder characterized by painless symmetrical diffuse deposits of fat beneath the skin of the neck, upper trunk, arms and legs. The condition is thought to be genetic although its exact mode of inheritance is uncertain. It may be a mitochondrial DNA disease. It frequently appears in association with alcoholic liver disease, macrocytic anemia (“low […]