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Tourette's syndrome is a neurological disease that causes people to perform impulsive, frequent and repeated acts, also known as tics, which can make socialization difficult and worsen the person's quality of life, due to embarrassing situations.
Tourette syndrome tics usually appear between the ages of 7 and 11, starting with simple movements, such as blinking your eyes or moving your hands and arms, which then worsen, with repeated words, sudden movements and sounds like barking , grunt, shout or swear, for example.
Some people are able to suppress tics during social situations, but others find it difficult to control them, especially if they are experiencing emotional stress, which can make their school and professional life difficult. One of the common consequences is isolation, which causes intense suffering.
How to identify the syndrome
The symptoms of Tourette's syndrome are usually observed initially by teachers, who note that the child begins to behave strangely in the classroom.
Some of these signs and symptoms can be:
Motor tics
- Blink of an eye;
- Tilt your head;
- Shrug your shoulders;
- Touch the nose;
- Make faces;
- Move your fingers;
- Make obscene gestures;
- Kicks;
- Shaking the neck;
- Hit the chest.
Vocal tics
- Swearing;
- Hiccup;
- Shout out;
- Spit;
- Clucking;
- To moan;
- Howl;
- Clear the throat;
- Repeat words or phrases;
- Use different tones of voice.
These symptoms appear repeatedly and are difficult to control, and in addition, they can develop into different tics over time. Usually tics appear in childhood but they can appear for the first time until the age of 21.
Tics also tend to disappear when the person is asleep, with the consumption of alcoholic beverages or in an activity that requires great concentration and worsen in the face of situations of stress, tiredness, anxiety and excitement.
How to confirm the diagnosis
In order to diagnose this syndrome, the doctor may have to observe the pattern of movements, which usually happen several times a day and practically every day for at least one year.
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 there is another neurological disease with similar symptoms.
What causes the syndrome
Tourette's syndrome is a genetic disease, more frequent in people of the same family and its exact cause is not yet known. There are reports of a person who was diagnosed after suffering a head injury, but infections and heart problems are also more frequent within the same family. More than 40% of patients also have symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder or hyperactivity.
How the treatment is done
Tourette's syndrome has no cure, but it can be controlled with proper treatment. Treatment must be guided by a neurologist and usually starts only when the symptoms of the disease affect daily activities or endanger the person's 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 the 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;
- 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.
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 ability to learn, like all others who do not have this syndrome. The child can continue to attend normal school, without the need for special education, but one should talk to 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 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 .