Tic disorders and their differential diagnosis in childhood

Tics occur in 1% or more of children and are characterised by brief sudden movements that involve the face and upper body. In addition to the tics, the children may suffer from attention deficit disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, behavioural problems and learning disabilities. Medications are available to mitigate these symptoms. Occasionally, other disorders may present like tics and result in some initial diagnostic confusion. Children are best managed by an approach that addresses each of these target symptoms.