$Unique_ID{BRK01300}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Information About Tourette Syndrome}
$Subject{tics tourette stress ill defined symptoms rare diseases mental
emotional conditions syndrome facial attention deficit disorders psychiatric
anxiety depression symptom disease condition syndromes tic stresses disorder
anxieties depressed }
$Volume{N-23, E-23}
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Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Information About Tourette Syndrome


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QUESTION:  Our young daughter, age 11, has been suffering with facial tics for
some time now, and was just diagnosed as having Tourette syndrome.  Can you
provide me with some information and help about this?

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ANSWER:  Tourette syndrome has left the medical world baffled.  Usually
occurring between the ages of 2 to 15, and mimicking the symptoms of attention
deficit disorders common to this age group, it has been difficult to diagnose
and treat.  The major criteria for a diagnosis of Tourette syndrome, aside
from age of onset, are the presence of recurring, repetitive, involuntary, and
purposeless movements, the presence of vocal tics, the ability of the patient
to suppress the movements for minutes or hours at a time, variations in the
intensity of the symptoms, and the occurrence of symptoms for at least one
year.
     Other signs might be present, and all symptoms seem to worsen with
stress.  Psychiatric disorders, for instance compulsive disorder, can be
confused with Tourette syndrome, and, as a matter of fact, the drug used to
treat this disorder is also used in psychiatric disorders.  The disorder
crosses all class and economic groups and appears equally in all
nationalities.  There is some evidence that the disease might be hereditary,
but these findings are not conclusive.  Usually anxiety and depression are
present in the kids who have it, and they need all the support they can get
from physicians, parents, and teachers.  The Tourette Syndrome Association is
a valuable source of research, support, and up to date information about this
perplexing disorder.  You may contact them by writing to Tourette Syndrome
Association, 42-40 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, New York 11361 or calling (718)
224-2999.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.