How is Tourette’s syndrome treated?

  Tic disorders are most common between the ages of 3 and 10 years old, with the most frequent occurring between the ages of 4 and 7 years old, but can also occur as early as 2 years old. The main clinical manifestations are simple motor tics, such as blinking eyes, shrugging nose, opening mouth movements, or clearing throat and nose, etc. The other tics are mainly progressive development of multiple parts, various forms of motor tics and one or more vocal tics, motor tics and vocal tics exist simultaneously. The symptoms of this disorder usually start with a single motor twitch of the eyes and face, which is intermittent, and then gradually progress to twitching of the neck, shoulders, limbs, and trunk, and persist. The form of the twitches also progresses from simple to complex and finally obscene. Vocal twitching symptoms usually appear 1-2 years later than motor twitching symptoms, and obscenities are present in about 15% of children. The symptoms of this disorder involve many sites and are frequent, and have a large emotional and psychological impact on the child. About half of the children have obsessive-compulsive symptoms, half have attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder symptoms, and some have self-injurious behavior, mood disorders, or learning difficulties.  The etiology of tic disorders is not fully understood. Among them, the etiology of vocal and multimotor combined tic disorders is the most studied: the etiology is complex and may be the result of the interaction of genetic, neurophysiological, neurobiochemical and environmental factors. Stress can induce the development of the disorder in children with genetic susceptibility.  Treatment principles Treatment should be based on the principle of timely and comprehensive treatment, including medication, psychotherapy, dietary modification and environmental treatment. However, medication remains the primary treatment method to date. If a child with tic disorder responds well to medication, has adequate symptom control, and has minimal adverse effects, consideration will be given to gradually discontinuing medication after 1 to 1.5 years of treatment on the basis of dose reduction. If symptoms recur or worsen, resume medication or increase the dosage.  Psychotherapy Supportive psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, and family therapy should be strengthened so as to help the child and parents correctly understand the disorder, correctly view and deal with the problems encountered (e.g., shame from classmates, etc.), eliminate various factors in the environment that adversely affect the child’s symptoms, improve the child’s mood, and enhance the child’s self-confidence. Habit reversal training and relaxation training are also helpful in the treatment of this disorder.  Other arrangements for the child’s life should be reasonable, avoid excessive excitement, stress, exertion, cold and fever, etc., so as to avoid triggering or aggravating the disorder.  Advice to parents: 1. Prohibit children from playing computer games or watching TV for long periods of time; purposefully allow children to be more active as a way to relieve stress and relax; 2. Adjust your own emotional state and remember not to correct your child with words or even physical punishment when tic symptoms appear; 3. Eat a light diet: In the recipes of these children, nutritious and easily digestible foods should not be missing, but high-protein and high-calorie The same should be limited. Eat more light, vitamin-rich vegetables and fruits, and avoid stimulating foods, foods rich in coloring and food additives, or drinking large amounts of caffeinated beverages.  4, under the guidance of the doctor to give children to take drugs and adjust the dose, do not increase the amount of drugs or stop the drug without authorization, otherwise it will lead to serious side effects or increase the difficulty of treatment.