Alternative Names Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, multiple tic syndrome
Definition Tourette syndrome is an inherited disorder that causes a person to make involuntary movements and sounds.
What is going on in the body? A person with Tourette syndrome doesn't show any unusual behaviour early in life. During the teenage years, however, he or she may begin to blink a lot and make facial grimaces or twitches, called tics. The person may also begin to experience uncontrolled movements of the head and limbs.
Later, a person with Tourette syndrome will begin to make unusual sounds or blurt out inappropriate words. The words may be curse words and are often repeated several times.
What are the signs and symptoms of the disease? Symptoms of the disorder include making many involuntary movements. These include:
facial twitches, or tics
twitching or jerking of the head and shoulders
jerking of the arms and legs
Other symptoms include making involuntary sounds, such as:
grunts
yelping
coughs
hissing
loudly blurting out words that are inappropriate
An affected person may also have compulsive behaviour, repeating a particular activity to relieve fear or anxiety.
What are the causes and risks of the disease? Many cases of Tourette syndrome occur randomly, but other cases tend to run in families.
Tourette syndrome affects 1 in 2,500 males. Females are affected less frequently.
What can be done to prevent the disease? Nothing can be done to prevent Tourette syndrome.
How is the disease diagnosed? Tourette syndrome is diagnosed by a doctor who takes a careful history of the symptoms. The doctor may also observe the tics and other inappropriate movements or vocal sounds.
What are the long-term effects of the disease? The effects of Tourette syndrome may vary over the course of the lives of affected persons. At times, the effects may almost disappear. Then, they return as pronounced as ever. Some affected persons are able to suppress the tics and sounds for very short periods of time.
What are the risks to others? Tourette syndrome is not contagious. It is an inherited disorder that can be passed from affected persons to their children. Genetic counselling is valuable for the relatives of affected persons.
What are the treatments for the disease? Various medications have been tried to treat Tourette syndrome. Haloperidol is used most often, but pimozide is also effective. These drugs may be used alone or with other drugs to treat specific symptoms of the disease. Nicotine patches may also help reduce motor tics.
What are the side effects of the treatments? Persons being treated for Tourette syndrome may be depressed or drowsy or have blurred vision. Persons may also have less control over their regular, voluntary movements.
What happens after treatment for the disease? Symptoms return if treatment is stopped.
How is the disease monitored? Tourette syndrome is monitored by observation. If the syndrome is being treated with medications, the level of the drugs in the blood is monitored by blood tests for therapeutic drug levels.
Author: Ronald J. Jorgenson, DDS, PhD, FACMG Reviewer: HealthAnswers Australia Medical Review Panel Editor: Dr David Taylor, Chief Medical Officer HealthAnswers Australia Last Updated: 1/10/2001 Contributors Potential conflict of interest information for reviewers available on request
