What is meant by Tourette’s syndrome?

Tourette’s syndrome is understood as a serious problem, which, unfortunately, often provides food for jokes. It lies in the fact that patients randomly shout obscene language. Tourette's syndrome is most often affected by children. Its first signs usually appear in babies aged three to nine years. According to available data, men are diagnosed with this diagnosis about 3-4 times more often than women from the fair half of our humanity. In this article we will talk in more detail about the symptoms of the disease, treatment of patients, as well as how Tourette’s syndrome develops.

Causes

Unfortunately, at the moment, scientists have not come to a consensus on the primary factors causing this kind of problem. So, some blame heredity for everything, while others see the reason for the mutation of genes. Still others consider the deterioration of the environment and improper upbringing of children from the point of view of psychoemotional stress to be the cause. In addition, some experts claim that those children whose mothers abused alcohol, smoked, and had an unhealthy lifestyle in general are sick with Tourette’s syndrome. Particular attention is paid to autoimmune diseases that future mothers suffered.

What are the primary symptoms?

Tourette's syndrome is primarily manifested in the form of short involuntary

tic-like movements. So, kids can snap their tongues, blink, make faces. About 10-15% of young patients have speech disorders (palilalia, echolalia, coprolalia, etc.). During periods of severe stress, tics of this kind noticeably increase, and the attacks themselves follow continuously. Small patients with great difficulty adapt in the surrounding society, while most of them develop mental disorders, which often, in turn, even leads to suicide.

Diagnostics

According to experts, at the moment there is no single biological marker that would determine the presence of this diagnosis. That is why confirmation of the syndrome is based solely on dynamic observation. Note that the mental, mental, and even emotional state of babies suffering from Tourette’s syndrome is practically no different from the general development of other children. Various examinations, including a neurosonogram, an electroencephalogram, or computed tomography, also do not reveal any specific disorders in patients.

Treatment

Therapy for this syndrome is primarily aimed at helping to manage symptoms. Due to the fact that the first signs, as a rule, do not significantly affect the functioning of the body, drugs are not used to suppress them. Antipsychotics are prescribed only when the symptoms prevent the patient from leading a normal lifestyle. So, the most effective drugs are Pimozide and Haloperidol. Often, with this diagnosis, special psychotherapy is recommended. Its main goal is to adapt the child in society and prevent the development of a depressive state

.