Sydenham chorea in the top end of Australia's Northern Territory: A 20‐year retrospective case series

Abstract

AimSydenham chorea is an immune‐mediated neuropsychiatric condition, and a major criterion for diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever (ARF). Children in remote Northern Australia experience disproportionately high rates of ARF, yet studies looking at the epidemiology, clinical presentation and management of Sydenham chorea are limited in this population.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective case series from January 2002 to April 2022 of all paediatric patients aged ≤18 years admitted to Royal Darwin Hospital with Sydenham chorea. Cases were identified using the hospital's clinical coding system (ICD10). Medical records were reviewed and data on demographics, clinical presentation, investigation results, treatment and outcome were extracted, deidentified and analysed.ResultsOne hundred ten presentations of Sydenham chorea occurred between 2002 and 2022, 109 (99%) of these were in First Nations children, with 85% residing in very remote locations. Most commonly, chorea presented as a generalised movement disorder affecting all four limbs (49%). Neuropsychiatric symptoms were reported in 33 (30%), and there was evidence of rheumatic heart disease on echocardiogram in 86 (78%) at presentation. All patients received benzathine penicillin, but there was significant variation in management of chorea, ranging from supportive management, to symptomatic management with anticonvulsants, to immunomodulatory medications including corticosteroids.ConclusionThis case series highlights the significant burden of Sydenham chorea among First Nations children living in Northern Australia and demonstrates wide variation in treatment approaches. High‐quality clinical trials are required to determine the best treatment for this disabling condition.