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Pediatric paroxysmal movement disorders - A clinical epidemiological study in an Irish cohort

Susan Harvey1, Nicholas M Allen2, Susan Byrne3

  • 1Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street, Dublin 1, Ireland; School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.

European Journal of Paediatric Neurology : EJPN : Official Journal of the European Paediatric Neurology Society
|March 25, 2025
PubMed

Insights

The prevalence of paroxysmal movement disorders (PxMD) in children is higher than in adults, with a point prevalence of 6.5 per 100,000. Many pediatric PxMD cases show improvement with treatment, trigger avoidance, or spontaneous remission.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Movement Disorders
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Paroxysmal movement disorders (PxMD) encompass episodic involuntary movements like paroxysmal dyskinesias (PD) and episodic ataxias (EA).
  • Despite historical recognition, pediatric PxMD prevalence remains largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish the prevalence of PxMD within the pediatric population of the Republic of Ireland.
  • To delineate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pediatric PxMD cases.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional cohort study was conducted across Irish pediatric neurology services.
  • Methods included retrospective chart reviews, telephone interviews, and direct clinical assessments.

Main Results:

  • Seventy-nine pediatric cases met inclusion criteria (37 PD, 38 EA, 4 Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood).
  • The point prevalence for PxMD was 6.5 per 100,000 children (<18 years).
  • A specific etiology was identified in 38% of reviewed cases, with single-gene testing yielding the highest diagnostic rate.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides the first prevalence data for pediatric PxMD, revealing a higher rate than in adult populations.
  • A significant proportion of children with PxMD experience symptom improvement through medication, trigger avoidance, or natural remission.
Abstract

Keywords:
Episodic ataxiaParoxysmal dyskinesiaParoxysmal movement disorderParoxysmal non-kinesigenic dyskinesia

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