In children, problems associated with twitching of the eye are often observed. This occurs as a result of involuntary muscle contractions, which are better known as neural tic. A similar phenomenon occurs quite often and lasts for several minutes. In this case, the eye may not close completely due to spasm, and visual impairment and pain are not observed.
Why does the child have an eye twitch? Eye tics usually indicate the presence of any disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system of the body. Therefore, before trying to treat the symptoms, you must understand the root cause.
Nervous Tick: Causes
So what do you need to know about this? Single jerking of the eyelids does not usually become a cause for concern. However, if the child began to twitch the eye regularly, parents should be wary. The main symptom can also be accompanied by pain in the temples and muscles, increased tearing. This indicates a serious defeat.
It is believed that if a child's eye twitches from time to time, then this is nothing special. Even a healthy person may experience similar symptoms. However, this opinion is fundamentally wrong. There is a reason for a nervous tick.
It can be triggered by:
- genetic predisposition;
- past diseases;
- overwork;
- general fatigue;
- diseases of the central nervous system;
- vitamin deficiency;
- stressful.
Sometimes a child's eye twitches due to a weakened immune system. This is often observed after treatment for influenza, SARS, or a bacterial infection. Often tic is a consequence of conjunctivitis. Twitching can also be caused by poor heredity. But it cannot be guaranteed to say that if one of the parents often has nervous tics, then they will certainly be transmitted to the child.
Eye twitching from overwork
Physical and emotional overwork seriously affects your health. Hard work and regular lack of sleep can lead to involuntary contractions of the eye muscles. Children today are constantly faced with a tremendous load on the visual apparatus. As a rule, they are fond of computer games and gadgets, like to read books and comics in low light, and also watch cartoons in front of the TV for a long time. During all these actions, blinking rarely occurs, from this the nerves and eye muscles begin to undergo significant stress.
Twitching of the eye muscles as a result of vitamin deficiency
What you need to know about this? If the child often blinks, the eye twitches periodically, then, perhaps, this is due to a lack of vitamins and minerals. Lack of magnesium can lead to convulsive muscle contractions. When the body lacks calcium, the conduction of nerve impulses is disrupted. Due to glycine deficiency, the central nervous system may not function properly.
Nervous tick as a result of emotional shock
Why does the child have an eye twitch? The reasons may be related to the psychological and emotional state. Often, such problems arise when parents are at the stage of divorce or a misfortune has occurred in the family. A nervous tick can also occur with a serious fear. At the same time, it is not so easy to notice the trembling of the eyelids. Usually, children themselves complain of such symptoms. In this case, you must urgently make an appointment with a neurologist or optometrist.
Associated symptoms
You should familiarize yourself with them thoroughly. Many do not worry much when the child's eye twitches. It is believed that there is nothing wrong with that.
However, in addition to twitching, other symptoms may occur:
- discomfort in the upper and lower eyelids;
- pain discomfort in the temples;
- sensation of sand in the eyes.
If you have at least one of the listed symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor. Untimely treatment can lead to serious visual impairment.
First aid for nervous tic
Let's dwell on this in more detail. What to do if a child's eye twitches? How to help the baby?
From the inconvenience caused by twitching of the eye muscles, the following techniques well help:
- Switching attention.
- The use of compresses.
- Elimination of nerve twitching with exercise and massage.
To distract the baby from unpleasant symptoms, try to occupy him with some occupation, such as drawing or board games. Try to protect your child from watching TV and computer games. When a child is truly interested in the creative process, pathological impulses are suppressed. But as soon as the baby stops drawing or playing, the effect will disappear.
As for massage, simple light pressure on the inner and outer corners of the eye is suitable here. For a time, twitching can be overcome by strong squinting (for 3-5 seconds). Typically, this exercise is done in three sets with an interval of a minute.
Well compresses from geranium leaves help. They must be crushed and put on the affected eye. At the top lay gauze wrapped in several layers and a warm scarf. The compress is held for about an hour, then removed, and the eyes are washed with warm water. This procedure is recommended to be performed approximately 2 hours before bedtime.
How to treat?
Suppose you notice that a child twitches and blinks his eyes more often than usual. What to do? Mild primary ticks usually pass by themselves. But with serious manifestations, it is necessary to prescribe a course of treatment as soon as possible. Otherwise, the situation will only progress.
There are several types of treatment for nervous tick:
- non-drug;
- medication;
- folk.
Non-drug therapy helps to restore the activity of the nervous system and establish material metabolism. In addition, it normalizes the mental and emotional state of the child. With nervous tics, the baby needs special care. The main thing here is to create a calm atmosphere at home. The correct daily routine is also important. The child should provide good rest and good nutrition. Make sure that the baby does not overstrain.
Drug treatment involves the use of drugs that act on the principle of sedatives. The doctor may also prescribe medications that help normalize blood circulation in the brain. Good results are provided by Novo-Passit, Cinnarizine, Phenibut and Diazepam. You can also try to give your child a sedative tincture, such as motherwort. The medicine can be prepared independently. To do this, take two tablespoons of crushed dry plants and pour 200 ml of boiling water. The mixture is left to infuse for 2 hours. After that, it is filtered. Children aged 7 to 14 are given a teaspoon of tincture 30 minutes before meals three times a day. A good effect is also observed from tincture of chamomile. In a thermos, add 1 tablespoon of chopped dry leaves and pour boiling water. In this state, the mixture is insisted for three hours, and then filtered. The drug is taken in a quarter cup 30 minutes before meals three times a day.
In addition to the above methods for treating nervous tic, the doctor can also prescribe massage and physiotherapy. Usually we are talking about exposure to low-frequency electrical pulses.
Recommendations
What can parents do if the child's eye twitches? The main thing - in no case do not scold the baby. Positive changes in the condition may not appear as quickly as you expect. Try to create a relaxed home at home. Offer your child new games. The main thing here is to choose the right hobbies and classes. In the treatment of nervous tics, it is recommended to pay special attention to sports.
Try to constantly monitor the psychophysical well-being of the child. Due to a nervous tick, he may be shy to go out to people and behave restrainedly. This leads to serious internal overstrain. Do your best to make your child feel comfortable. Do not focus on his ailment. Let the baby feel like everyone else.
Soothing exercises
What are they? If you notice that a child suffering from a nervous tic, is experiencing serious emotions and is about to cry, invite him to do a couple of soothing exercises. Heron pose helps a lot. To do this, stand with the baby on one leg and jump several times. Another good way to relax quickly is to strain and release your muscles.
Conclusion
Many parents are faced with a problem like a nervous tick in a child. It can be caused by a genetic predisposition or psychological trauma. To find out what was the root cause of the tick is not always possible. After all, kids rarely talk about their experiences. In any case, children are happiness. The eye twitches in a child for various reasons. The main task of adults is to help overcome the disease. Try to provide your child with a calm and favorable psychological environment. Make sure that the baby does not overexert and get enough sleep. Also, special attention should be paid to the diet. After all, nervous tics often occur with a lack of vitamins and nutrients. Try to limit your TV and computer activities. The daily routine of a little fidget must include walks and outdoor games.
If the twitching of the eye muscles in the child does not go away for several days, be sure to consult a specialist. The doctor will prescribe the most appropriate treatment regimen. Perhaps the baby will need medication and physiotherapy. In no case do not postpone a visit to the doctor. The slightest delay can lead to quite serious complications.