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Psychogenic intractable sneezing in children
The Journal of Pediatrics
|September 1, 1984
Insights
Intractable sneezing in children may stem from psychogenic causes, not physical illness. Early intervention for this conversion reaction offers a good prognosis for young patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Preadolescent children presenting with severe, intractable sneezing require thorough medical evaluation.
- Standard pharmacological and local treatments often prove ineffective for unexplained paroxysmal sneezing.
Observation:
- Four preadolescent children experienced prolonged, severe sneezing episodes.
- Hospitalization and extensive medical treatments failed to resolve the symptoms.
Findings:
- A psychogenic cause, specifically a conversion reaction, was identified as the underlying issue.
- This condition is rare and typically observed in children aged 9 to 15 years.
Implications:
- Recognizing psychogenic sneezing is crucial for accurate diagnosis in pediatric cases.
- Timely and appropriate psychological interventions can lead to a positive prognosis and recovery.
Abstract:
Four preadolescent children had paroxysms of intractable sneezing. After days of hospitalization and numerous local and systemic drug treatments had failed, a psychogenic cause of their problem was entertained. This uncommon form of conversion reaction most often occurs between the ages of 9 and 15 years, and prognosis is good if the appropriate interventions are undertaken.