- How the treatment is done
- How to Identify Tourette's Syndrome
- Is Tourette's syndrome curable?
- Causes of Tourette's Syndrome
- Does the child need to stop studying?
Tourette's syndrome is a neurological disease that causes impulsive, frequent and repeated acts, also known as tics, that can make life difficult for the person and his family, due to embarrassing situations.
Tourette's syndrome tics usually appear from 7 to 11 years of age with simple motor tics, such as blinking eyes or movements of hands or arms, which then worsen, with repeated words, sudden movements and sounds like barking, grunting., shout or swear, for example.
Some patients are able to suppress some of the tics with difficulty, but others have difficulty controlling them, especially during situations of emotional stress, which can hamper their school and professional life. One of the common consequences is isolation, which causes intense suffering.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for Tourette's Syndrome should be guided by a neurologist and usually starts only when the symptoms of the disease affect the patient's daily activities or endanger his life. In such cases, treatment can be done with:
- Neuroleptic remedies: like Haloperidol or Pimozida, which block neurotransmitters in the brain responsible for the appearance of tics; Antidepressants: like Fluoxetina, which reduce symptoms of sadness and anxiety that can cause tics; Botox injections: are used in motor tics to paralyze the muscle affected by the movements, reducing the appearance of tics. Find out how botox works here. Adrenergic inhibitor drugs: such as Clonidine or Guanfacine, which help control behavioral symptoms such as impulsivity and anger attacks, for example.
However, these remedies do not treat all types of Tourette syndrome tics and, therefore, it may also be important to consult a psychologist or psychiatrist for psychotherapy or behavioral therapy sessions where ways of controlling the tics of the disease are trained.
The tics usually disappear when the person is sleeping, with the consumption of alcoholic beverages or in an activity that requires great concentration as in a paintball game, and they get worse in situations of stress, tiredness, anxiety and excitement.
How to Identify Tourette's Syndrome
The symptoms of Tourette's Syndrome are usually observed initially by teachers who observe that the child begins to behave strangely in the classroom. Some of these signs and symptoms can be:
Motor tics
- Blinking eyes; Tilt your head; Shrug your shoulders; Touch your nose; Make faces; Move your fingers; Make obscene gestures; Kicks; Shake your neck; Beat your chest.
Vocal tics
- Swearing; Sobbing; Screaming; Spitting; Cackling; Groaning; Howling; Clearing your throat; Repeating words or phrases; Using different tones of voice.
These symptoms appear repeatedly and are difficult to control, and in addition, they can happen during sleep, evolve to different tics over time or worsen in situations of illness, stress or anxiety. Generally, tics appear in childhood but they can appear until the age of 21.
To reach the diagnosis of this disease, the doctor may have to observe the pattern of repeated movements, which happen several times a day, practically every day for a year or longer. No specific tests are needed to identify this disease, but in some cases, the neurologist may order magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography, for example, to check whether there is a possibility that it is some other disease.
Is Tourette's syndrome curable?
True Tourette's Syndrome has no cure, but it can be controlled with appropriate treatment that can include the use of drugs and psychotherapy, for example, allowing you to lead a normal life. Already, hysterical Tourette's Syndrome tends to disappear and the person is completely cured.
Causes of Tourette's Syndrome
This syndrome is a genetic disease, more frequent in people of the same family and it is not yet known exactly what its specific cause. There are reports of a person who was diagnosed after suffering a head injury, but infections and heart problems are also more frequent in the same family. More than 40% of patients also have symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder or hyperactivity.
Does the child need to stop studying?
The child diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome does not need to stop studying, because he has all the capacity to learn, like all others who do not have this syndrome. The child can continue attending normal school, without the need for special education, but one should talk with teachers, coordinators and principals about the child's health problem so that they can help in their development in a positive way.
Keeping teachers, classmates and parents properly informed about the symptoms and treatments for this syndrome helps the child to be understood, avoiding the isolation that can lead to depression. The remedies can be useful to help control tics, but psychotherapy sessions are also a fundamental part of the treatment, because the child knows about his health problem and cannot completely control it, often feeling guilty and inadequate..
