Mataracy
VIP Contributor
Chorea is a description of irregular purposeless movements. It may be seen in rheumatic fever,and many children who have suffered from chorea later on develop signs of rheumatic heart disease.This form of chorea occurs rarely in adults,except during pregnancy. There is rare hereditary form of chorea which appears usually in adult life.
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
(1) Sudden,changing purposeless moments occur in the face,arms and legs,so that the child appears to be continually fidgeting and grimacing. He tends to drop articles held in the hands.
(2) There is general clumsiness due to the involuntary movements.
(3)The child is often nervous and emotional
(4) There may be evidence of acute rheumatic heart disease,such as a rapid and perhaps irregular pulse.
(5) Chorea,when it occurs in women during pregnancy may take a very severe course with violent movements and mental confusion often bordering on acute mania.
TREATMENTS
The child must be nursed with absolute rest as in acute rheumatic fever,so as to avoid any strain on a possibly damaged heart. For the same reason the child must not do anything for himself, but must be fed and washed.as these patients are inclined to be nervous and emotional,the carrying out of all necessary details in these cases will call for the utmost patience and skill.
The clothing should be light and warm, and as the clothing may get thrown off during the choreiform movements, a sleeping suit and bwdsocks are useful in severe attacks. Care must be exercised in the choice of feeding utensils as these may get broken as a result of vilent movements. The child must be prevented from injuring himself in severe attacks b b suitable padding of the bed.
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
(1) Sudden,changing purposeless moments occur in the face,arms and legs,so that the child appears to be continually fidgeting and grimacing. He tends to drop articles held in the hands.
(2) There is general clumsiness due to the involuntary movements.
(3)The child is often nervous and emotional
(4) There may be evidence of acute rheumatic heart disease,such as a rapid and perhaps irregular pulse.
(5) Chorea,when it occurs in women during pregnancy may take a very severe course with violent movements and mental confusion often bordering on acute mania.
TREATMENTS
The child must be nursed with absolute rest as in acute rheumatic fever,so as to avoid any strain on a possibly damaged heart. For the same reason the child must not do anything for himself, but must be fed and washed.as these patients are inclined to be nervous and emotional,the carrying out of all necessary details in these cases will call for the utmost patience and skill.
The clothing should be light and warm, and as the clothing may get thrown off during the choreiform movements, a sleeping suit and bwdsocks are useful in severe attacks. Care must be exercised in the choice of feeding utensils as these may get broken as a result of vilent movements. The child must be prevented from injuring himself in severe attacks b b suitable padding of the bed.
