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You may be familiar with tremors as one of the symptoms of movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease. But tremor is also a primary condition affecting people of all ages, including children.
Tremors in kids can be frustrating, embarrassing and affect their ability to use their hands during play, sports, and daily activities. The skilled team at THINK Neurology for Kids has helped many children overcome or manage tremors, allowing them to enjoy childhood and achieve success.
If you’re concerned about shaking in your child, keep reading to learn the basics about tremors and the five top treatments.
Causes of tremors in kids
Tremors are repetitive, rhythmic muscle movements that often affect your child’s hands and arms but can also appear in their voice, body, and legs. Some tremors only appear when resting. But the most common tremor in children, essential tremor, causes shaking when actively using their muscles.
Tremors can arise from many causes, including:
- Certain medications (asthma medications, steroids, and psychiatric drugs)
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Multiple sclerosis
- Mercury or lead poisoning
- Overactive thyroid
- Familial tremor
- Liver or kidney disease
- Low blood sugar
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Caffeine
However, essential tremor usually arises without an underlying cause. Not knowing the cause may sound frustratingly vague, but it also means your child doesn’t have a serious health condition.
When we see children with tremors, we run diagnostic testing to rule out other health conditions. For example, we typically run blood tests and an electroencephalogram (EEG) and may schedule a CT scan, MRI, or genetic testing.
Five tremor treatments
This list includes the top five treatments. We left out invasive surgery, such as deep brain stimulation. Surgery is the last resort for children with severe tremors that don’t improve with other less invasive treatments.
1. Medication
We may prescribe one of several possible medications, depending on the type of tremor, the severity of your child’s symptoms, and their age. The two most common medications used for tremors are anti-seizure medications and beta blockers.
Anti-seizure medicines work in different ways, depending on the type we prescribe. They may slow down electrical activity in neurons (brain nerves) or decrease neurotransmitters (brain chemicals). Though beta blockers are known for treating heart conditions, they also block neurotransmitters that cause tremors.
We understand parents’ concerns about giving their child medications. If your child needs medicine, we protect their health, starting with the smallest possible dose and carefully monitoring their response to the medication.
2. Botox® injections
Botox has been used for decades to treat movement disorders such as muscle spasms, and the tremors. We may consider Botox if your child doesn’t improve with medication or other treatments.
After injecting Botox into carefully targeted muscles, the medication blocks nerve signals that make muscles contract. As a result, the muscles relax and tremors stop.
3. Physical therapy
Physical therapy strengthens the affected muscles, helping to control or diminish the tremor. Children may also benefit from physical therapy to improve their balance and boost their ability to coordinate movement in the shaking muscles. Your child’s physical therapist may also recommend adaptive devices that control tremors, such as a wrist brace or weights.
4. Neuromodulation
Neuromodulation is a safe, noninvasive treatment for hand tremors. However, it may only suit some children because they must wear a device (similar to a smartwatch) around their wrist. The device uses mild electrical impulses to regulate nerve signals and improve tremors.
5. Focused ultrasound
Focused ultrasound is a noninvasive treatment that targets the brain area controlling muscle movement and destroys the nerves responsible for your child’s tremors. A specialized device focuses multiple sound waves on a specific point inside your child’s brain. We use real-time MRI to guide the waves as they pass safely and painlessly through the skin and skull.
If you or your child notice tremors, we can answer your questions, evaluate the problem, and recommend the most appropriate treatment. Call one of the THINK Neurology for Kids offices in The Woodlands, Katy, Sugarland, or Lakeway, Texas, or request an appointment online today.