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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Can a virus lead to the development of tics?
Answered by
Lama Chahine, MD - Neurology
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland - OH
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury.
Can a virus lead to the development of tics?
by Gwen3, Feb 23, 2009 08:29AM
My son started eye-rolling & when he is tired, these tics move (shoulder/leg/head movements, grimacing a few times, shook his head back and forth once). We took him to a pediatric opthamologist (he's 4) and were told that there
was no damage to his optic nerve or eyes. The opthamologist said that it was probably viral-related & neurological since he had 2 bad viruses (one in Nov. that included viral conjunctivitis, sore throat, middle-ear infection,
fever, upper resp. infection - we had to treat him for asthma wih albuterol & then pulmicort until the asthma subsided - he was treated with ceprozil for 10 days for his ear infection). The cough lasted for about 3 or 4 weeks. At
the end of Jan., he had all the symptoms of the flu and ran a high fever (103+) that made him a little delirious until I brought it down with ibuprophen & cool compresses. A week after the virus seemed to be gone, the eyerolling tics started w/a sinus infection diagnosis 4 days later. Any ideas what could cause these symptoms? He's a smart, very social boy that never had this type of thing happen before.
was no damage to his optic nerve or eyes. The opthamologist said that it was probably viral-related & neurological since he had 2 bad viruses (one in Nov. that included viral conjunctivitis, sore throat, middle-ear infection,
fever, upper resp. infection - we had to treat him for asthma wih albuterol & then pulmicort until the asthma subsided - he was treated with ceprozil for 10 days for his ear infection). The cough lasted for about 3 or 4 weeks. At
the end of Jan., he had all the symptoms of the flu and ran a high fever (103+) that made him a little delirious until I brought it down with ibuprophen & cool compresses. A week after the virus seemed to be gone, the eyerolling tics started w/a sinus infection diagnosis 4 days later. Any ideas what could cause these symptoms? He's a smart, very social boy that never had this type of thing happen before.
Doctor's Answer
by Lama Chahine, MD, Feb 25, 2009 02:31PM
, Feb 25, 2009 02:31PM
Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.
Without the ability to examine your son and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of his symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
Tics can be primary, meaning of no known identifiable cause, or secondary. Tics can be motor, such as blinking, grimacing, etc., or phonic (grunting, throat clearing). Simple motor tics are very common in younger children and resolve with age. In some children, tics are part of a condition called Tourette's syndrome, in which multiple types of tics occur for more than 1 year. Tics can also occur after viral illness and in this case these are termed secondary tics. Tics can also occur in a variety of other systemic and neurologic conditions. The majority of primary tics and most secondary tics improve with age.
The differential diagnosis to transient abnormal movements occuring in a child after a febrile illness are seizures. Other possible causes can include just habit (habitual movements), dyskinesias due to various causes, tremor, or what is termed stereotypies, which are self-stimulatory movements that can occur in children.
I recommend you have your son seen by his general pediatrician. After he/she examines your son, he/she may choose to recommend referral to a pediatric neurologist. If your son's abnormal movements are transient, it might be a good idea to video tape them so that your physicians can understand exactly what they appear like.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
Without the ability to examine your son and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of his symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
Tics can be primary, meaning of no known identifiable cause, or secondary. Tics can be motor, such as blinking, grimacing, etc., or phonic (grunting, throat clearing). Simple motor tics are very common in younger children and resolve with age. In some children, tics are part of a condition called Tourette's syndrome, in which multiple types of tics occur for more than 1 year. Tics can also occur after viral illness and in this case these are termed secondary tics. Tics can also occur in a variety of other systemic and neurologic conditions. The majority of primary tics and most secondary tics improve with age.
The differential diagnosis to transient abnormal movements occuring in a child after a febrile illness are seizures. Other possible causes can include just habit (habitual movements), dyskinesias due to various causes, tremor, or what is termed stereotypies, which are self-stimulatory movements that can occur in children.
I recommend you have your son seen by his general pediatrician. After he/she examines your son, he/she may choose to recommend referral to a pediatric neurologist. If your son's abnormal movements are transient, it might be a good idea to video tape them so that your physicians can understand exactly what they appear like.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
