What is tics? What are the causes of tics?

Tourette syndrome is a chronic neurological disorder that mainly occurs in children, so it is medically called Tourette syndrome in children. It is caused by a neurological disorder that causes sudden involuntary and multiple tic symptoms, accompanied by explosive vocalizations and foul language. The onset of the disease is also closely related to gender. Male children aged 4-12 are the main group of patients, so early detection and treatment are necessary.

Tourette syndrome is a chronic mental disorder that is not easy to detect. When the disease occurs, it first starts from the face and neck, and gradually spreads downward, with sudden, involuntary, and multiple tics. The muscles twitch rapidly and repeatedly, accompanied by explosive, involuntary vocalizations and obscene language. The facial symptoms are obvious, and there are symptoms such as unconscious blinking, shaking the head, stretching the arms, straightening the chest, squinting, etc. As the disease worsens, speech and movement disorders will occur, and monkey calls will appear in the late stage. The symptoms are extremely unstable, sometimes mild and sometimes severe. The child's spirit is in a tense state, and lack of sleep makes it worse, making it difficult to fall asleep.

The causes of tics are complex and varied, and the reasons have not yet been clarified. They are closely related to the following reasons:

1. Genetic reasons: This is an important cause of tics. Patients with a family history of tics have a higher incidence rate than ordinary patients.

2. Physical reasons: Tics are caused by local diseases, such as conjunctivitis, rhinitis and other diseases.

3. Physical reasons: Children are more fresh and sensitive to people and things, so they are easily interested, have high demands, and tend to be stubborn.

4. Educational reasons: Because the patient's parents have too high expectations of their children, the children are under too much pressure, and are anxious and nervous, which induces tics. 5. The influence of drugs, such as long-term use of antipsychotics and other drugs that stimulate the nerves.

To prevent this disease, we must avoid imitating any bad habits, avoid mental stimulation, and prevent children from developing anxiety and other adverse conditions.

1. Treatment

Treatment includes the following:

1. Psychological behavioral therapy

(1) Eliminate the trigger: In transient tic disorders, especially in children whose tics do not last long, it is often not difficult to find the trigger during the behavioral interview. The trigger for young children is usually watching tense TV or video programs, playing video games, or hearing or seeing something frightening. Therefore, it is crucial to find the trigger and eliminate it.

(2) Detailed analysis of psychological factors: The psychological factors of the child before the onset of the disease should be analyzed in detail to find out the possible causes of the disease and then solve them. Older children often have tics due to accidents, family conflicts, and excessive study pressure. For example, the adjustment of various contradictions, family conflicts, and the mental conflicts and tensions caused by excessive demands and coercion of parents and grandparents on children must be resolved. If there are school factors, contact the teacher to jointly solve them. For factors that cannot be solved, supportive psychotherapy should be given to help the child analyze the mental causes and find the right way to deal with them.

(3) Provide necessary guidance to parents: Explain the nature of the disease to the parents of the child and do not panic. This can eliminate the reinforcement effect caused by the parents' excessive attention. Parents are often too worried about tics. Parents should be made aware of the causes of tics and arrange the child's life, study and activities reasonably. Do not remind the child of the tic symptoms. Blame or give excessive attention, because this will make the child more nervous and is not conducive to the control of tics. Instead, the child's tics should be ignored, which can gradually subside. Most patients will have their symptoms disappear naturally after a few months. Help the child eliminate the causes and provide a good and relaxed family environment.

Muscle relaxation therapy and operant treatment are expected to achieve good results. When children receive behavioral therapy, the cooperation of the children and their parents should be obtained, and the parents should be given necessary guidance to assist in the treatment.

2. Behavioral correction encourages children to control tics by themselves, adopts positive reinforcement methods such as rewarding them for their efforts to overcome and reduce tics, and uses relaxation methods to reduce children's mental stress. This is more effective for young children.

3. Drug treatment: Generally, tics do not require drug treatment. Drug treatment is only given when the tics significantly affect the child's movement and speech, and interfere with interpersonal relationships and classroom learning.

(1) Eliminate the cause: Tonsillitis, allergic conjunctivitis, rhinitis, upper respiratory tract infection, etc. are sometimes the cause of tics in children. Therefore, these diseases should be treated first.

(2) Haloperidol (HAL): It can block dopamine receptors. The dosage is 0.02-0.05 mg/(kg·d). Start with a small amount orally, 0.25 mg, twice a day. If it is ineffective, gradually increase the dosage until a satisfactory effect is achieved, so that the symptoms are controlled without side effects. Children can take 1-6 mg/d. This drug is prone to cause extrapyramidal side effects, among which acute dystonia and akathisia are the most common. Large doses can also cause myocardial damage. To prevent extrapyramidal side effects, it can be used in combination with antamine or scopolamine.

(3) Diazepam (Valium) (1.25-2.5 mg, twice a day) can be added to children with severe anxiety.

The disease can heal itself or with treatment within a few months, but in some children it can persist for several years.

should:

1. Eat high-protein and nutritious foods.

2. Eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals.

3. Eat high-calorie and easily digestible food.

avoid:

1. Avoid eating greasy and difficult to digest food.

2. Avoid eating fried, smoked, grilled, raw, cold, and spicy foods. 3. Avoid eating high-salt and high-fat foods.