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Facial tics

Alternative Names:

Tic - facial; Mimic spasm

Treatment:

Transient childhood tics are not treated. Calling the child's attention to a tic may increase its severity or prolong its disappearance. A non-stressful environment is helpful in both decreasing the frequency of a tic, and hastening its disappearance.

If tics are disabling, medications such as Risperidone (as well as others) may be effective in controlling the tics.

Expectations (prognosis):

Simple childhood tics can be expected to disappear spontaneously over a period of months. Chronic tics may last indefinitely.

Complications:

In most cases, there are no complications.

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if tics are severe, affect multiple muscle groups, or are persistent.

Review Date: 11/21/2006
Reviewed By: Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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