Definition

Transient tic disorder, or what is now called provisional tic disorder, is a tic disorder that occurs for a short period of time. Tics are irregular, uncontrolled, unwanted, and repetitive muscle movements that can occur in any part of the body. Tics can be physical or verbal movements, resulting in movements or sounds that deviate from a person's normal movements. For example, someone with a tic may blink rapidly and repeatedly, even if nothing is irritating their eyes. A transient tic disorder is characterized by the presence of one or more tics that occur for at least one month but less than one year. Tic symptoms vary and vary between individuals, but the majority of tics seen in this disorder are motor tics, although vocal tics may also occur.

Transient tic disorder most often appears at a young age and can affect up to ten percent of children in the early school years. Transient tic disorder can disappear by itself in less than a year. Some cases may be affected by anxiety, fatigue, and the effects of some medications.

Causes

The exact cause that causes a person to experience transient tic disorder is not yet known. Some research suggests that transient tic disorder may run in families. Genetic mutations are also thought to cause transient tic disorder in rare cases. Abnormalities in the brain, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and depression, may also be responsible for the process of transient tic disorder. Several other studies show that transient tic disorder can be associated with disorders of neurotransmitters, such as glutamate, serotonin, and dopamine. Neurotransmitters are chemical compounds in the brain that function to send nerve signals to cells. Apart from that, stress and lack of sleep also affect the occurrence and severity of motor tics.

Risk Factor

Several factors can increase a person's risk of suffering from transient tic disorder, including:

• Tics tend to run in families, so there may be genetic risk factors for this disorder.
• Gender, men tend to be more likely to suffer from tics than women.
• History of smoking during pregnancy
• Complications occur during pregnancy
• Low birth weight of the baby
• Infection, it is thought that certain children are more likely to suffer from tics after having an infection
• History of using illegal drugs, such as cocaine or amphetamines
• Have other diseases, such as ADHD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), cerebral palsy, Huntington's disease

Symptoms

Symptoms of transient tic disorder usually consist of one or more tics, which can be classified as:

• Motor tics include head and shoulder movements, blinking, jerking, banging, tapping fingers, and touching an object or another person. Motor tics tend to appear before vocal tics, although this is not always the case.
• Vocal tics, usually in the form of sounds, such as coughing, throat clearing or grunting, or repeating words or phrases.

Tics can also be divided into the following categories:

• Simple tics, namely tics that occur suddenly and quickly pass using several muscle groups. Examples include twitching of the nose, bulging of the eyes, or clearing of the throat.
• Complex tics which involve coordinated movements using multiple muscle groups. Examples include jumping or stepping in a certain way, gesturing, or repeating words or phrases.

Tics are usually preceded by an uncomfortable urge, such as itching or tingling. Although it is possible to refrain from tics, this requires a lot of effort and often causes tension and stress. After doing a tic, the sufferer will feel a sensation of relief and satisfaction.

The onset of tic symptoms may be:

• Worsens with emotions, such as anxiety, excitement, anger, and fatigue
• Worse when sick
• Worsens at extreme temperatures
• Happened while sleeping
• Varies from time to time
• Varies in type and severity
• Increases over time

Diagnosis

In diagnosing transient tic disorder, the doctor will start by conducting an interview to ask about the symptoms you are experiencing, as well as evaluating other medical history to help rule out other underlying conditions as the cause of your symptoms. The doctor will also perform a physical examination, especially a neurological examination (nervous system). In addition, the doctor may recommend other tests, such as a brain CT scan and blood tests, to determine whether the tic is a symptom of a more serious disease, such as Huntington's disease.

Sometimes tics are difficult to diagnose because the symptoms resemble other disorders. For example, allergies may be the cause of your nose sniffling or twitching repeatedly. Therefore, in diagnosing transient tic disorder, several criteria must be met, including:

• You should have one or more motor tics (such as blinking or shrugging your shoulders) or vocal tics (such as humming, clearing your throat, or shouting a word or phrase).
• Tics must occur less than 12 months in a row.
• Tics must begin before the age of 18.
• Symptoms must not be caused by certain medications or another medical condition such as Huntington's disease or post-viral encephalitis.
• You must not have Tourette's syndrome or another chronic motor or vocal tic disorder.

Management

Transient tic disorder in children often goes away on its own without the need for special treatment. A combination of therapy and medication can be helpful in situations where tics affect work or school activities. Because stress can make tics worse or more frequent, it is important to pay attention to techniques for controlling and managing stress.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is also a useful way to treat tic disorders. During these sessions, a person learns to avoid self-destructive actions by controlling their emotions, behavior, and thoughts.

Medication cannot completely cure tic disorders, but it can reduce symptoms for some people. Your doctor may prescribe medications that reduce dopamine in your brain, such as Haloperidol or Pimozide. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that can influence tics. Doctors can also treat tic disorders with antidepressant medications. These medications help treat symptoms of anxiety, sadness, or obsessive-compulsive disorder and may temporarily help with complications of tic disorders.

Complications

In most cases, transient tic disorder goes away on its own and does not cause complications. However, in rare cases it can develop into a chronic tic disorder. Complications that often occur are more about decreasing quality of life because transient tic disorder sufferers usually have low levels of self-confidence and self-image.

Prevention

There are several simple things you can do to help prevent tics from occurring and help reduce tic symptoms, namely:

• Avoid stress, anxiety and boredom, for example, try to find relaxing and enjoyable activities to do (such as exercise).
• Avoid excessive fatigue, try to sleep soundly whenever possible
• Try to ignore your child's tics and not talk about them too much, drawing your child's attention to the tic can make the symptoms worse
• Don't tell your child when their tic occurs
• Reassure your child that everything is fine and there is no reason for them to feel embarrassed
• Tell other people who come into frequent contact with you or your child about the tic, so they are aware of it and know not to react when symptoms occur

When to See a Doctor?

Consult a doctor if your child exhibits uncontrollable, unwanted, repetitive movements or sounds. If you are unsure whether the movement is a tic or a seizure, contact a doctor immediately for help.

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