Tourettism refers to the presence of Tourette-like symptoms in the absence of Tourette syndrome, as the result of other diseases or conditions, known as "secondary causes".
Tourette syndrome (TS) is an inherited neurological condition of multiple motor and at least one vocal tic. Although Tourette syndrome is the most common cause of tic disorders, other sporadic, genetic, and neurodegenerative disorders may also exhibit tics.Evidente, GH. "Is it a tic or Tourette's? Clues for differentiating simple from more complex tic disorders." PostGraduate Medicine Online. October 2000 108:5. Available at archive.org
Conditions that may manifest tics or stereotyped movements include developmental disorders; autism spectrum disorders and stereotypic movement disorder; Sydenham's chorea; idiopathic dystonia; and genetic conditions such as Huntington's disease, neuroacanthocytosis, pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Wilson's disease, and tuberous sclerosis. Other possibilities include chromosomal disorders such as Down syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, XYY syndrome and fragile X syndrome. Acquired causes of tics include drug-induced tics, head trauma, encephalitis, stroke, and carbon monoxide poisoning. The symptoms of Lesch–Nyhan syndrome may also be confused with Tourette syndrome.
Tic mimickers
Chorea (disease) Myoclonus Dystonia Torsion dystonia Idiopathic dystonia
Genetic/chromosomal
Chromosomal abnormalities Citrullinemia Down syndrome Duchenne muscular dystrophy Fragile X syndrome Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration Huntington's disease Full text Klinefelter syndrome Lesch–Nyhan syndrome Neuroacanthocytosis Neurodegeneration Phenylketonuria Schizophrenia Tuberous sclerosis Wilson's disease XYY syndrome
Infectious or post-infectious
Encephalitis Mycoplasma pneumoniae Sydenham's chorea
Developmental
Pervasive developmental disorders Asperger syndrome Autism spectrum Rett syndrome Intellectual disability Static encephalopathy Stereotypic movement disorder
Toxins/insults/acquired
Carbon monoxide poisoning Cerebral palsyEvidente, GH. "Is it a tic or Tourette's? Clues for differentiating simple from more complex tic disorders." PostGraduate Medicine Online. October 2000 108:5. Available at archive.org Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease Fetal alcohol syndrome Head trauma Hypoglycemia Intrauterine exposure to illicit drugs Intrauterine infections Mercury Neurocutaneous syndromesEvidente, GH. "Is it a tic or Tourette's? Clues for differentiating simple from more complex tic disorders." PostGraduate Medicine Online. October 2000 108:5. Available at archive.org Neurosyphilis Perinatal asphyxia Psychogenic disease Stroke Wasp venom
Drugs
Cocaine Levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa) Antiepileptics Carbamazepine (Atretol, Epitol, Tegretol) Lamotrigine (Lamictal) Amphetamines Pemoline Phenytoin (Dilantin) Phenobarbital Antipsychotics (e.g.; haloperidol)eMedicine article on Tardive dyskinesia Full article
Notes
References Black, Kevin J. Tourette Syndrome and Other Tic Disorders. eMedicine.com March 22, 2006.
Further reading