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Tourette’s was once considered a rare and bizarre
syndrome, most often associated with the exclamation
of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory
remarks (coprolalia). However, this symptom is present
in only a small minority of people with Tourette’s.
Tourette’s is no longer considered a rare condition,
but it may not always be correctly identified because
most cases are classified as mild cases.
Since the incidence may be as high as one
in a hundred people, up to 530,000 U.S. school-age
children may have Tourette’s, with the more
common tics of eye blinking, coughing, throat clearing,
sniffing, and facial movements. People with Tourette’s
have normal life expectancy and intelligence. The
severity of the tics decreases for most children
as they pass through adolescence, and extreme Tourette’s
in adulthood is a rarity. Notable individuals with
Tourette’s are found in all walks of life.
Genetic and environmental factors each play a role
in the etiology of Tourette’s, but the exact
causes are unknown. In most cases, medication is
unnecessary. There is no effective medication for
every case of tics, but there are medications and
therapies that can help when their use is warranted.
Explanation and reassurance alone are often sufficient
treatment; education is an important part of any
treatment plan.
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