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Published on: December 13, 2017
Shuddering attacks are not related to essential tremor
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. mmsjan@yahoo.ca
Journal of Child Neurology
|June 4, 2010
Summary
Shuddering attacks are benign movements in children, often misdiagnosed as epilepsy. This study found no link to essential tremor and confirmed their benign nature and eventual remission.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Movement Disorders
Background:
- Shuddering attacks are benign, involuntary shivering movements in young children.
- Their etiology remains unknown, with a possible link to essential tremor previously postulated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical characteristics and diagnostic accuracy of shuddering attacks in children.
- To determine any association between shuddering attacks and essential tremor.
Main Methods:
- A series of 12 children diagnosed with shuddering attacks via history and video review were analyzed.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) was performed, and long-term follow-up data were collected.
Main Results:
- Children were referred with suspected epilepsy (58%) or movement disorders (42%), with no physician suspecting shuddering attacks.
- No epileptiform discharges were observed on EEG, and no family history of essential tremor was reported.
- All children experienced complete remission by age 3-7 years, with no subsequent tremor development.
Conclusions:
- Shuddering attacks are frequently misdiagnosed, leading to unnecessary investigations and treatments.
- The study found no association between shuddering attacks and essential tremor in affected children or their families.
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