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Picture Courtesy:  THE HINDU

Context:

A 12-year-old child from Kochi diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome (TS), a complex neurological disorder.

About Tourette Syndrome

It is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by "tics."

Tics are sudden, repetitive, and involuntary (or semi-voluntary) movements or vocal sounds. They are not intentional acts of misbehavior.

It appears between the ages of 2 and 15, with the average onset around six years old. It affects an estimated 0.3% to 1% of the global population, with boys being more commonly affected than girls.

Symptoms

Tics are the primary symptom and are classified into two main categories:

• Simple Tics: These involve a limited number of muscle groups.
• Simple Motor Tics: Eye blinking, head jerking, shoulder shrugging, and facial grimacing.
• Simple Vocal Tics: Grunting, throat-clearing, sniffing, or barking sounds.
• Complex Tics: These involve coordinated patterns of movements using several muscle groups.
• Complex Motor Tics: Hopping, touching objects, or bending over.
• Complex Vocal Tics: Repeating one's own words (palilalia), repeating others' words (echolalia), or, in a small minority of cases (about 1 in 10), uttering socially inappropriate words (coprolalia).

Tics can worsen with stress, excitement, or fatigue and improve when a person is calm or focused on an activity. They are preceded by an uncomfortable sensation or urge, which is temporarily relieved by performing the tic.

Causes and Associated Factors

The exact cause of Tourette Syndrome is still unknown, but research points to a combination of factors:

• Genetic Factors => A child with a parent who has TS has a higher chance of developing the condition.
• Neurobiological Factors => Research involves irregularities in certain brain regions, particularly the basal ganglia, and the functioning of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.
• Environmental Factors => Complications during pregnancy, low birth weight, and certain infections may play a role in the development of TS.

Treatment

There is no cure for Tourette Syndrome, but various treatments can help manage the symptoms.

Source: 

THE HINDU