Tourette's Syndrome

Tourette's syndrome refers to a disease resulting from a disorder of the nervous system, which is characterized by the appearance of multiple tics (motor and vocal). As a rule, Tourette's syndrome manifests itself at an early age, the male sex is more susceptible to his appearance than the female. Tourette's syndrome in children occurs with a pronounced clinical picture. The severity of the symptoms of the disease is significantly reduced after the adolescent period, very rarely they occur in individuals at a more mature age. The disease does not affect life expectancy and intelligence.

The causes leading to the development of Tourette's syndrome are different and not fully established. It is generally accepted that the genetic factor is the main and leading factor. If a person has a certain set of genes, the risk of developing the disease is much higher than in people who do not have a specific gene. Many parents of sick children claim that in their family there were cases of the disease with this syndrome. Another reason may be the environmental factor. For example, poor ecology, an unacceptable climate during intrauterine development of the baby. Streptococcal infection, severe labor or pregnancy, late toxicosis, bad habits and stress of the expectant mother can also provoke Tourette's syndrome.

The disease is characterized by tics, which are of different classification. Ticks are sharp, involuntary and uncontrolled movements or cries, they can be motor or sound. To motor tics include: twitching of the head or shoulder, sneezing, blinking, pampering the forehead. Vocal or sound - are shown a little less often, than motor. They are characterized by unexpected pronunciation or shouting of any sounds that arise as a result of the interaction of individual muscles.

Ticks are usually classified according to type and duration. Type of tick is motor and sound, and positivity is transient and chronic. The incoming tics consist of several motor tics simultaneously, which are necessarily accompanied by sound ticks, this disorder lasts from a month to one year. For a chronic disorder, a single or multiple manifestation of one of the types of tics is characteristic, that is, it can be motor or sound, but not both at the same time.

Tourette's syndrome is determined by the presence of a certain complex of symptoms. As a rule, the main symptom is the presence of a different kind of tics in the patient. Ticks are usually distinguished by: frequency, quantity, anatomical localization and severity. Depending on the emotional state of a person, ticks increase or decrease in their severity and frequency. Each patient's disorder proceeds individually.

The most common symptom of Tourette's syndrome is coprolalia. Coprolalia is a spontaneous and uncontrolled exclamation of immoral or unwanted phrases, words. And also Tourette's syndrome is determined by other types of tics. For example, echolalia - a constant repetition of other people's phrases or words; Palilalia - the repetition of one's own word. Very often, patients in front of a tick feel an irresistible desire to relieve or regain normal state of health.

Tourette's syndrome treatment should be aimed at reducing the frequency of tics, their elimination and normalization of the general condition. Almost always the disease is mild and does not require any special treatment. As a rule, there are no drugs for curing the syndrome, but it is possible to reduce, or temporarily eliminate, the expressed symptoms. Treatment includes psychological therapy and medication, the latter is applied in the case of the impossibility of normal human life.

The prognosis for patients with Tourette syndrome is always favorable.