Huntington's chorea - etiology, symptoms. Treatment of hyperkinesis in children
Huntington's chorea disease is hereditary and is characterized by severe damage to the central nervous system. The reason for its development is pathological changes in the human genome. It can affect not only the cortex of the brain, but also its soft tissues. The disease is difficult and actively progresses.
Symptoms of pathology
Modern medicine has identified two main forms of the disease:
- classic Huntington's chorea - progression begins after 40 years, the clinical picture is characterized by a decrease in muscle tone and excessive movements;
- juvenile form - appears in childhood, accounts for 10% of all cases of the disease.
The development of the disease is fast, but gradual. Symptoms of minor chorea in children:
- chirping lips during conversation;
- frequent and deep sighs;
- constant blowing of the nose;
- spontaneous protrusion of the tongue.
Mimic involuntary movements on the face gradually become more intense, they are joined by dancing, inappropriate nodding of the head, waving of hands, swaying of the body from side to side. A diagnosis of tycotic hyperkinesis may be made, the child is observed by a neurologist.
In the process of the child's growth, the above symptoms may disappear, but there is a general slowdown in behavior. Over time, muscle tone becomes as high as possible and the patient is unable to even take care of himself - fasten buttons, put on pants, and so on.
One of the bright symptoms of Huntington's chorea is mental disorders - at first it is increased irritability and emotionality, sleep disorders. During the progression of the pathology, unmotivated aggression is manifested, at an older age, hallucinations, delusional ideas, even suicidal thoughts are noted. At the same time, patients cannot be critical of their own condition and behavior and consider themselves to be completely healthy.
The result of genome disruption is mental retardation and dementia, when a person needs constant care. The progression of the disease continues for 10-20 years. The juvenile form of Huntington's chorea develops very quickly, the fatal outcome occurs after 8-10 years.
Treatment of Huntington's chorea
Modern medicine does not have clear tactics of therapy, this disease is considered incurable. As a treatment for hyperkinesis in children, the following can be prescribed:
- Tetmodis – reduces movement disorders;
- neuroleptics (Haloperidol, Azaleptin and others) - reduce muscle tone, inhibit the progression of mental disorders;
- amitriptyline is an antidepressant that reduces the intensity of movement and facial expressions.
Other therapeutic appointments are not made, because any intervention does not give any results. Patients are literally doomed, as a result they become unmanageable, do not orient themselves in space and time, lose their memory and do not recognize any of their relatives. They must be under constant supervision, so they are often placed in specialized psychiatric clinics.
Huntington's chorea is a genetic disorder. Therefore, for the appearance of such a patient in the family, it is necessary to undergo an examination of all family members, and pregnancy planning is better to be carried out under the control of geneticists. Modern scientists can offer people who fall into the risk group from the birth of such a baby to undergo an IVF or ICSI procedure - it will be possible to implant a healthy fertilized egg into the mother.
More detailed information about the disease rheumatic chorea can be found on the pages of our website www.dobrobut.com.
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