Chorea is a movement disorder where the muscles of the face, arms, and hands involuntarily contract in a random, uncontrolled way. The disorder is often accompanied by twisting and writing movement, called athetosis.

There are two types of chorea, Huntington’s chorea and Sydenham’s chorea. Huntington’s chorea appears in adults and is hereditary, progressive, and ultimately fatal. Sydenham’s chorea appears in about 20 percent of children and young adults as a complication of rheumatic fever, a complication of untreated strep throat or scarlet fever. It is treatable and curable with antibiotics and regular drug therapy to prevent recurrence.