What can be done to prevent the condition?

Most cases cannot be prevented. Streptococcal infections are treated with antibiotics to prevent cases due to rheumatic fever. Newborns with severe jaundice can be treated to prevent kernicterus. Avoidance of medicines, toxins, or contaminated material could help prevent some cases, but this is often not possible.

What are the long-term effects of the condition?

Many of these conditions, such as Parkinson and Huntington disease, may lead to death even with treatment. A person will gradually have more and more trouble moving, thinking, and performing self-care. Other causes, such as Sydenham chorea, may go away and have no long-term effects.

What are the risks to others?

These disorders are generally not contagious. Some, such as Huntington and Wilson disease, may be passed on to one's children. Genetic counseling can be helpful to some couples. The infection that causes rheumatic fever is often contagious. But, those who catch it usually don't develop a basal ganglia disorder.