Chorea
What is chorea?
Chorea is a movement disorder that causes involuntary, irregular, unpredictable muscle movements. The disorder can make you look like you’re dancing (the word chorea comes from the Greek word for "dance") or look restless or fidgety.
How common is chorea?
No one knows for sure how many people experience chorea. Chorea is usually a symptom of another disorder. About 30,000 people in the United States have Huntington’s disease (a genetic condition that causes chorea). Doctors estimate another 200,000 people have a risk of developing Huntington’s disease because their parents have the genetic condition. Chorea is the most common symptom of Huntington’s disease.
Who is affected by chorea?
Chorea can occur in people of all ages. However, certain groups of people have an increased risk, including:
People with a family history of Huntington’s disease:
Children who have had rheumatic fever:
People with other medical conditions: Autoimmune diseases (such as Systemic lupus erythematosis)
Hormonal disorders like hyperthyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, hyperparathyroidism
Metabolic disorders such as hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, hyponatremia, hypernatremia, hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia
Stroke: Some people develop chorea if they have a stroke or a tumor that occurs in or near basal ganglia.
Pregnancy: Though rare, a type of chorea called chorea gravidarum can occur during pregnancy. (If pregnancy is the cause of the chorea, it may appear during the first three months of pregnancy and stop shortly after the birth of the baby.)
Genetic diseases: Wilson disease and neuroacanthocytosis
Prognosis:The prognosis for individuals with chorea varies depending on the type of chorea and the associated disease. Some of the diseases like Huntington's disease is a progressive disorder. Sydenham's chorea and metabolic chorea are treatable and curable.