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Epidemiology and Management of Essential Tremor in Children

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Abstract

Essential tremor (ET) is a common, often familial, movement disorder characterized by tremor of the limbs, head, and voice. Epidemiological surveys indicate that up to 5% of the adult population has ET, and 5–30% of adults with ET report symptom onset during childhood. There is, however, little published regarding ET in the pediatric population, and no prospective studies targeted specifically to children. Retrospective studies from subspecialty movement disorder clinics indicate that childhood-onset ET is usually hereditary, begins at a mean age of 6 years, and affects boys three times as often as girls. While ET occasionally results in disability during childhood, only one-quarter of children seeing a neurologist for ET require pharmacotherapy. Small case series suggest that propranolol is effective in approximately 50% of children with ET, but controlled treatment trials are lacking.

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No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this review. The authors have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this review.

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Ferrara, J., Jankovic, J. Epidemiology and Management of Essential Tremor in Children. Pediatr-Drugs 11, 293–307 (2009). https://doi.org/10.2165/11316050-000000000-00000

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