Gilles de la tourette
- Article
- 2021-03-30
Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurological condition characterized by repetitive, stereotypical, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics. The first symptoms of TS are almost always noticed in childhood. Some of the most common tics include blinking eyes and other vision irregularities, facial grimaces, shrugs, and head or shoulder twitches. Perhaps the most dramatic and disabling tics are those that result in self-harm, such as hitting oneself in the face, or vocal tics, including coprolalia (pronouncing swear words) or echolalia (repeating the words or phrases of others). Many with TS experience additional neurobehavioral problems, including inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms such as intrusive thoughts / worries and repetitive behavior.
Therapy
Because tic symptoms don't often cause disability, the majority of people with TS don't need medication to suppress tic. However, effective medications are available for those whose symptoms interfere with functioning. There is no medication that is helpful for all people with TS, and no medication completely eliminates symptoms. Effective medications are also available to treat some of the associated neurobehavioral disorders that can occur in patients with TS.
Prognosis
While TS can be a chronic condition with symptoms that last a lifetime, most people with the condition experience their worst symptoms in their early teens, with improvement in the late teens and continuing into adulthood. As a result, some individuals may even become symptom-free or may no longer require medication to suppress tic.
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