Involuntary, sharp and repetitive muscle contractions are commonly referred to as nerve tics. Such a disease is familiar to many people, but most often children under ten years of age suffer from it. Parents do not immediately notice a nervous tick in the child, treatment is delayed because of this. Over time, frequent blinking or coughing is alarming for adults, and the baby will be taken to a specialist. Since usually all indicators are normal, he advises contacting a neurologist. Only then do parents begin to struggle with the problem. It takes a lot of time to diagnose the disease, so do not hesitate. It is better to seek help as soon as alarming symptoms appear.
How does a tick appear and when does it occur?
Most often, contractions are most noticeable on the face and neck. They can be manifested by blinking, sniffing the nose, movements of the head or shoulders, twitching of the lips and nose. Sometimes a child has several symptoms.
Neurologists argue that the most dangerous age when the onset of the disease is most likely is 3-4 years and 7-8 years. This is due to the peculiarities of the development of the body: at this age, children face various crises and move on to new life stages.
Symptomatology
It is not easy to identify this disorder, because for a long time neither the child nor the parents realize that the movements are involuntary. The most important criterion that should alert is the inability to control muscle contractions. When there is a nervous tic, the child's eyes can quickly blink and twitch. This is one of the most common symptoms.
Types of Nerve Ticks
Depending on how long the disease lasts, tics are usually classified as follows:
- Transistor In this case, symptoms appear less than a year.
- Chronic. It lasts more than a year.
- Syndrome of Gilles de la Tourette. It is diagnosed when the child has extensive motor tics and at least one vocal.
If a nerve tick is detected in a child, treatment will depend on which muscle groups are involved. Therefore, the disease is usually divided into types:
- local (one muscle group);
- common (several groups);
- generalized (almost all muscles contract).
Ticks can be voice and motor. The first include sniffing, coughing and others. The second refers to involuntary movements of body parts.
Why does this disorder occur?
When nervous tics occur in children, the causes of this phenomenon are very worrying for their parents. To make the picture more understandable, experts recommend recalling what events preceded these manifestations. As a rule, the disease is caused by a complex of causes.
Hereditary factor
Neurologists argue that it is he who is of paramount importance. But there are a number of reservations.
If one of the parents suffers from such a disease, it is not necessary that the child is also diagnosed with tic. This indicates its predisposition, but does not guarantee this disorder.
It is impossible to determine by external factors whether a genetic predisposition is present. Perhaps the parents had psychological problems that, through education, were transmitted to the child through uncontrolled emotions. In this case, it’s worth talking about the response method, not the genes.
Worries and stress
Parents are very worried when a nerve tick is detected in a child. They begin treatment immediately, but sometimes in the first place it is necessary to think about provoking factors and eliminate them. If a specialist says that stress can be the cause, parents are skeptical. But it is worth remembering that for adults and children the reasons for experiences can be completely different. In addition, even positive emotions, if they are especially vivid, can excite the nervous system of an impressionable baby.
TVs and computers
Pediatric neurology is manifested in many children, so parents should take action in a timely manner. Big problems are brought by long viewing of the TV. This is due to the fact that blinking light affects the intensity of the nerve cells of the brain. When this happens very often, the natural rhythm, which is responsible for calmness, is lost.
Physical inactivity
Parents need to figure out how to get rid of a nervous tick, because it affects the mental health of the child and over time can move from one species to another and grow. Their main mistake is that they attach great importance to the mental load of the child and completely forget about the physical. Children also need it so that energy finds a way out. Otherwise, reflex muscle contractions may occur.
Educational errors
Pediatric neurology may be affected by the character traits of parents that they do not control. The following factors can lead to this disorder.
- Mom's anxiety. Children intuitively feel her mood and inner feelings, even if outwardly she is calm. This leads to the fact that the child disappears a sense of security, and he is in constant alarm.
- Restraint in the manifestation of emotions. Lack of affection and warmth can manifest itself in involuntary movements.
- Total control. Many mothers love that the actions of the child and the events that occur around him are under their full control. Only then can they be calm.
- Overstated requirements. Every parent wants their child to be the smartest. Often they give him those qualities that he does not possess, so the baby does not live up to their expectations. For a long time, the child lives in constant fear of disappointing mom and dad, so tics can occur as a reaction to experiences.
Psychogenic and symptomatic tics
To understand how to get rid of a nervous tick, you need to know that they are primary (psychogenic) and secondary (symptomatic). The first occur most often between the ages of five and seven years, since this period is the most crisis for the child. The causes of their occurrence can be stress and psychological trauma, which are divided into acute and chronic.
Symptomatic disorders are caused by birth injuries, tumors and impaired brain metabolism. Sometimes the cause is a viral infection, which caused short-term hypoxia.
How to treat the disorder?
Parents who have identified a nervous tic in the child should not put off treatment. First of all, you need to contact a neurologist, and then to a psychologist. If tics last quite a while, the baby will be prescribed medication, but in order to get good results, you can’t do just one pill. Correction of all factors that can cause the disorder is necessary.
Mandatory parents should:
- reduce the time allotted to watch TV;
- provide physical activity;
- develop the optimal regime of the day and observe it;
- minimize worries and stress;
- if possible, conduct sand therapy or sculpting sessions;
- do exercises on tension and relaxation of the muscles of the face;
- Do not focus the child on the problem, so that he does not try to control the reduction.
Do not despair if a child is diagnosed with a nervous tic. The causes and treatment may vary in each case, but you need to know the general rules. It is not recommended to give the baby potent drugs, since there is a high probability of side effects. If the disorder is a consequence of another disease, then complex treatment should be carried out.
Prevention
When there is a nervous tic in children, the symptoms can be either pronounced or completely invisible. But it is better not to wait until the disease begins to progress, and to carry out preventive measures. The kid should have enough rest, walk in the fresh air, and it is also very important to surround him with care and love, to ensure a comfortable and relaxing environment.