[How is Sydenham's chorea treated in Rio de Janeiro?].
BACKGROUND
Sydenham's chorea is the most common cause of acquired childhood chorea in Brazil. Thus it is relevant to know how physicians treat those patients.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the practice patterns of Sydenham's chorea among pediatricians.


METHODS
A descriptive study was undertaken using a questionnaire among specialists and emergency pediatricians who work in public hospitals of Rio de Janeiro district.


RESULTS
74% of the physicians informed not to use any severity scale; 81% informed to always prescribe benzathine penicillin; 64% informed to begin pharmacological treatment for all patients; and Haloperidol was the most remembered drug among all physicians.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians do not routinely use severity scales in follow-up of choreic patients; there is a tendency of irregular prescription of benzathine penicillin by younger doctors; and 28.3% prescribe only haloperidol.
Souza
Vinicius Castro
VC
Instituto de Pediatria e Puericultura Martagão Gesteira, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. vinicastro@yahoo.com.br
Araújo
Alexandra Prufer
AP
André
Charles
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018726:Anti-Dyskinesia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002819:Chorea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000592:standards*; D010401:Penicillin G Benzathine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards*; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000150:complications; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018726:Anti-Dyskinesia Agents; D006220:Haloperidol; D010401:Penicillin G Benzathine