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Short report
Paediatric tic-like presentations during the COVID-19 pandemic
  1. Sarah Buts1,
  2. Morvwen Duncan2,
  3. Tamsin Owen1,
  4. Davide Martino3,
  5. Tamara Pringsheim3,
  6. Susan Byrne1,4,
  7. Andrew McWilliams2,5,
  8. Tara Murphy2,
  9. Osman Malik1,4,
  10. Holan Liang2,
  11. Isobel Heyman6,
  12. Tammy Hedderly1,4
  1. 1 Evelina London Children's Hospital Neurosciences Department, London, UK
  2. 2 Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, London, UK
  3. 3 Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
  4. 4 Child Health Clinical Academic Group, King's College London, London, UK
  5. 5 Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
  6. 6 UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Population Policy and Practice, London, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Tammy Hedderly, Evelina London Children's Hospital Neurosciences Department, London SE1 9RT, UK; Tammy.Hedderly{at}gstt.nhs.uk

Abstract

Background and aim Clinical centres have seen an increase in tic-like movements during the COVID-19 pandemic. A series of children and adolescents are described.

Methods A retrospective chart review of 34 consecutive paediatric patients presenting with sudden onset tic-like movements, seen over 6 months.

Results 94% of patients were female, with an average age of sudden onset or increase of tic-like movements of 13.7 years. 44% had a previous diagnosis of tics, and 47% initially presented to an emergency department. Comorbid psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders were reported in 91% with 68% reporting anxiety.

Conclusion We highlight a dramatic presentation of sudden onset functional tic-like movements in predominantly female adolescents to help inform identification and management. There is need to research the neurobiological underpinnings and environmental exacerbating factors leading to these presentations and to explore effective therapeutic strategies.

  • child psychiatry
  • adolescent health
  • paediatric emergency medicine
  • neurology
  • psychology

Data availability statement

Data may be obtained from a third party and are not publicly available. Anonymised tables with data of 34 patients is available at specific request from TH via tammy.hedderly@gstt.nhs.uk.

This article is made freely available for personal use in accordance with BMJ’s website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.

https://bmj.com/coronavirus/usage

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2021-323002

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    Data availability statement

    Data may be obtained from a third party and are not publicly available. Anonymised tables with data of 34 patients is available at specific request from TH via tammy.hedderly@gstt.nhs.uk.

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors All coauthors contributed to the data collection and writing of the paper.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.