Epidemiology and management of essential tremor in children.
Essential tremor (ET) is a common, often familial, movement disorder characterized by tremor of the limbs, head, and voice. Epidemiological surveys indicate that up to 5% of the adult population has ET, and 5-30% of adults with ET report symptom onset during childhood. There is, however, little published regarding ET in the pediatric population, and no prospective studies targeted specifically to children. Retrospective studies from subspecialty movement disorder clinics indicate that childhood-onset ET is usually hereditary, begins at a mean age of 6 years, and affects boys three times as often as girls. While ET occasionally results in disability during childhood, only one-quarter of children seeing a neurologist for ET require pharmacotherapy. Small case series suggest that propranolol is effective in approximately 50% of children with ET, but controlled treatment trials are lacking.
Ferrara
Joseph
J
Parkinson Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Jankovic
Joseph
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D020329:Essential Tremor / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011433:Propranolol