Haiti's Scourges...Rheumatic Fever and Sydenham's Chorea

Sydenham's Chorea (SC) is the name of Rodolphe's problem. That is why he is making the funny movements with his left hand.

SC is one of the five major manifestations of rheumatic fever. It is thought to occur when the immune system attacks part of the brain called the basal ganglia. Cortical structures of the brain can be involved also.

Emotional lability (laughing, crying, etc.) may precede the chorea (abnormal movements).

The prognosis is good even without treatment.

Rodolphe is the third Haitian patient I have seen with SC.