148,000 US Children Living With Tourette’s Syndrome

According to results from a new survey, Tourette’s syndrome effects up to 148,000 children living in America.

The condition is characterized by the inability to have full control over one’s actions, resulting in debilitating tics, repetitive speech, and sometimes, inappropriate utterings.

Researchers analyzed results from the National Survey of Children’s Health which was carried out in 2007.

From this survey the researchers learned that boys are far more likely to be diagnosed with the condition than girls, a fact that the answer for is a mystery.

“Having an estimate of the number of U.S. children who are diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome is a first step toward understanding the overall impact of this condition in the population,” said Dr. Rebecca Bitsko of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Tourette’s syndrome and tic disorders have been linked to higher rates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and impairments associated with these conditions, such as learning disabilities and problems with peer relations,” Bitsko added.

The researchers published their interesting findings in the June 5 edition of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.