Nervous System - Tourette Syndrome

Disease/Disorder: Tourette Syndrome

Common Name: Tourette Syndrome (TS)

Age of Onset: Early symptoms are usually noticed in childhood between the ages of 7 to 10 years.

Duration: TS is a chronic condition with lifelong symptoms, yet for most people the symptoms are worst in their early teens and improve slightly in their later teens and adulthood.

Males/Females/Equal: TS affects males 3 to 4 times more often than females.

Cause: The exact cause of TS is unknown, yet current research has discovered abnormalities in certain brain regions such as the basal ganglia, frontal lobes, and cortex. Also there are abnormalities in the circuits that interconnect these regions and the neurotransmitters responsible for communication between nerve cells (dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine).

Symptoms: Tics are repetitive, stereotyped, involuntary movements and vocalizations. They can be simple or complex. Simple tics involve a limited number of muscle groups, while complex tics involve several muscle groups. Simple motor tics are sudden, brief, repetitive movements such as eye blinking, facial grimacing, shoulder shrugging, and head jerking. Simple vocalizations include repetitive throat clearing, sniffing, and grunting. Complex motor tics are distinct, coordinated patterns of movements such as facial grimacing combined with head/shoulder jerking, hoping, jumping, bending, twisting, and inflicting self harm. Complex vocalizations include coprolalia (uttering swear words) and echolalia (repeating the words/phrases of others).

Prognosis (progression of disease): TS is a lifelong condition, yet the severity of tics tends to decrease in the later teen years and early adulthood. TS is not a degenerative disease, so people are expected to have a normal life expectancy.

Treatment Options: No medication completely eliminates the symptoms of TS. Neuroleptics are usually the most useful for tic suppression. Side effects though include sedation, weight gain, and cognitive dulling. Medications such as methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine can be used to lessen the ADHD symptoms seen in people with TS without enhancing the severity of tics. Psychotherapy may also be helpful for people with TS to better cope with their condition.

Source: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tourette/detail_tourette.htm

Muscular System - Polymyositis

Disease/Disorder: Polymyositis

Common Name: Polymyositis

Age of Onset: Tends to develop between the ages of 50 and 70 years, yet it can possibly occur at any age.

Duration: When treament is provided most people recover from this disease. Yet it is possible to die from complications.

Males/Females/Equal: Polymyositis is more common in women than men though it can affect either sex.

Cause: The exact cause of polymyositis is unknown, yet is is believed to be an autimmune disorder triggered by a viral infection of muscle tissue. People at a greater risk for polymyositis include those who already have a connective tissue disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or scleroderma. Or have family members who already have a connective tissue disease, so there could be a genetic susceptibilty.

Symptoms: Polymyositis triggers inflammation and muscle weakness. The shoulders and hips are usually affected first with muscle pain. There is also fatigue, breathlessness, swallowing dificulties, tremors (particularly in the hands), wide-footed stance and walking style, clumsiness, and the tendency to fall over.

Prognosis (progression of disease): Polymyositis develops gradually over weeks and months and by the time a person experiences the symptoms, he/she have already lost about half of his/her muscle fibers to the disease. At first, there is significant muscle weakness, such as where the arms are not even able to lift above shoulder height. Then the muscles of the larynx are affected and the person's voice will change. This is followed by swallowing and peristalsis (muscular contractions of the bowels) difficulties. Later, the disease may cause abnormal shortening of the muscles.

Treatment Options: Corticosteriods can be used to reduce the activity of the immune system and reduce inflammation. Plasmapheresis is a procedure in which the antibodies responsible for attacking muscle tissue are removed from the bloodstream. Also, immunosuppressive drugs or immunoglobulin can be administered. Finally, there is always physical therapy which helps strengthen muscles.

Source: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Polymyositis