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Pediatric movement disorders: an update

David S Wolf1, Harvey S Singer

  • 1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287-1000, USA.

Current Opinion in Neurology
|July 9, 2008
PubMed

Insights

This review highlights recent advances in pediatric movement disorders, including motor stereotypies, restless legs syndrome, and infantile masturbation. Progress has been made in understanding autoimmune conditions like Sydenham's chorea, though PANDAS remains debated.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics
  • Movement Disorders

Background:

  • Pediatric movement disorders encompass a wide spectrum, often characterized by intermittent and hyperkinetic symptoms.
  • Several under-recognized conditions and autoimmune disorders require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent findings in motor stereotypy disorder, restless legs syndrome, and infantile masturbation.
  • To discuss advances in autoimmune movement disorders, specifically Sydenham's chorea and PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection).

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent findings.
  • Discussion of diagnostic criteria, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment.

Main Results:

  • Motor stereotypies are common in children and can be persistent.
  • Infantile masturbation is frequently misdiagnosed as seizures or dystonia.
  • Restless legs syndrome is prevalent in children, with established diagnostic criteria.
  • Advances in Sydenham's chorea are noted, while PANDAS remains controversial.

Conclusions:

  • Significant progress has been achieved in understanding paroxysmal movement disorders.
  • Further research is needed for conditions like PANDAS.
  • Accurate diagnosis and management of pediatric movement disorders are improving.
Abstract

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