Tourette syndrome. The pediatric perspective
G. S. Golden
I report the clinical details of Tourette syndrome in 15 children. The
condition typically starts at age 6 years with eyeblinking, and the child
soon develops other tics and abnormal vocalizations. Coprolalia and
echolalia occure but are infrequent. The average delay in correct diagnosis
in this series was four years. Treatment with haloperidol produces a good
or excellent response in three quarters of the patients. Many of the
children have a history of encephalopathic events, "soft signs" on
neurologic examination, and problems in school. Personal and social
adjustmen are generally good, however.
