Echocardiographic findings in children with Sydenham chorea: a retrospective cross-sectional study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: In children with Sydenham chorea (SC), the prevalence of carditis (both clinical and subclinical carditis) is significant. Though SC often appears as an isolated manifestation, echocardiography frequently reveals valvular damage that goes undetected on auscultation. Determine the prevalence and patterns of clinical and subclinical carditis in children with Sydenham’s chorea at Tibebe-Ghion and Adinas General Hospitals. A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of the archived echocardiographic findings of all children (aged 5–15) diagnosed with Sydenham chorea from June 2019 to March 2026 was done between July 8, 2026, and August 7, 2026. A multinomial logistic regression done using SPSS version 27 evaluated the associations between age, sex, and carditis status. Associations were reported as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and significance at p < 0.05. Among 109 children with Sydenham chorea (mean age 10.07 ± 2.72 years; 59% female), 18% had no carditis, 66% had subclinical carditis, and 16% had clinical carditis. Mitral regurgitation (MR) was present in 82% of patients, primarily within the subclinical category (81%), with mild MR dominating subclinical cases (94%). Aortic regurgitation (AR) occurred in 22% of children, and 22% experienced combined MR and AR; isolated AR was not observed. Multinomial logistic regression demonstrated that neither age ( p = 0.929) nor sex ( p = 0.440) were significant predictors of carditis status. Echocardiography identified subclinical carditis in a substantial proportion of children with Sydenham chorea. These findings support the use of echocardiographic assessment in children with Sydenham chorea, particularly in high-burden settings. Not applicable.
Source: BMC Pediatrics
Authors: Tesfaye Taye Gelaw, Habtamu Bayih Engida
Institution: Bahir Dar University
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,090
OpenAlex ID: W7225411929