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Parents are understandably worried when they notice their child’s hands shaking or see tremors in the arms or legs. No matter where tremors appear, you’re fearful about your child’s health and want to know if they have a serious condition.
We want to give you a straightforward answer to ease your mind, but tremors are complex.
Sometimes, the shaking is temporary and improves as your child grows. Tremors may be a permanent condition in an otherwise healthy child. They can also signal an underlying condition. The only way to know is to bring your child in for an exam.
Our compassionate team at THINK Neurology for Kids includes Shaun S. Varghese, MD, Cristina R. Marchesano, MD, Lorena Herbert, MD, Barbara Kiersz-Mueller, DO, Lauren Weaver, MD, Alicia Walls, MD, Sundeep Mandava, MD, Jennifer E. Martin, CPNP-PC, Tammy DeLaGarza, FNP-C, Una Childers, PA-C, MPAS, Heather King, CPNP-PC, and Robby Korah, FNP-C.
We work together to provide exceptional support to you and your child, from answering questions to doing advanced diagnostic testing, accurately diagnosing the problem, and recommending customized treatment for your child’s tremors.
In the meantime, it may help to learn about the different types of tremors and their possible causes.
Two types of tremors
We identify tremors by their frequency, the body area affected, and whether they appear when your child rests or while they’re active.
Noticing whether your child has tremors when they sleep or only when they purposefully move, such as writing, coloring, or walking, can help us determine the cause.
It’s also helpful to notice if the tremors appear when your child is under stress or anxious, hasn’t eaten, or has consumed caffeine-containing products.
There are two primary types of tremors:
Essential tremor
Essential tremor (ET) is a primary condition, meaning it doesn’t represent an underlying health concern; it is the main problem. Children with ET are often healthy except for rhythmic shaking, which makes their symptoms more baffling to parents.
The most identifying characteristic of ET is that it occurs during activities and goes away when resting. By comparison, the tremors caused by Parkinson’s disease appear at rest and improve when using your muscles.
Though ET can occur at any age, it most often appears around puberty and affects the hands and arms. Your child may also have a shaky voice or tremors in their head, neck, or legs.
About half of the children inherit ET and have other family members with ET or a history of related conditions like migraines or dystonia (twisting muscle movements).
Secondary tremors
An underlying health condition causes secondary tremors. There are many possible causes for tremors that aren’t ET.
Reasons for pediatric tremors
ET seldom has an identifiable cause unless it’s inherited. Secondary tremors may occur when your child is stressed, anxious, or tired. (These conditions can also trigger or worsen shaking in kids with ET.)
Secondary tremors may be associated with any of the following conditions:
- Low blood sugar
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Overactive thyroid
- Metabolic syndrome
- Heavy metal poisoning
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Calcium and magnesium imbalances
- Encephalitis (inflamed tissues surrounding the brain)
- Vasculitis (inflamed blood vessels)
- Parkinson’s disease (neurotransmitter disorder affecting muscle movement)
- Wilson disease (toxic copper buildup)
- Multiple sclerosis (central nervous system disorder affecting)
- Brain tumors
- Kidney failure
- Certain medications
This list isn’t comprehensive; there are other possible reasons children develop tremors. That’s why scheduling an appointment with our skilled team for a thorough evaluation is essential.
To schedule an appointment, call the nearest THINK Neurology for Kids office in The Woodlands, Katy, Sugar Land, Lakeway, and Lake Jackson, Texas. You can also request an appointment through online booking.