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Alternative names Return to top
Tremor - familialDefinition Return to top
Familial tremor is a neurologic disorder that tends to run in families, involving involuntary shaking (tremors) that typically gets worse when the affected person tries to move or become more active.Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top
There is overlap between essential tremor, which may occur as an isolated case but may also run in families, and familial tremor, which affects more than one person in a family. Tremors can affect people at any age, but they are most common in older people.
A familial tremor is usually a relatively benign condition, affecting movement or voice quality but seldom having any other effects. It involves a rhythmic, moderately rapid tremor (shaking) of voluntary muscles.
Purposeful movements may make the tremors worse. There may be difficulty holding or using small objects (such as eating or writing utensils). Emotional stress may also increase the tremors.
Over time, the tremors may affect the hands, arms, head, voice box (larynx), eyelids, or other muscles, but they rarely involve the legs or feet. In children, these tremors are usually limited to the hands and rarely require treatment.
The exact cause is unknown, but the fact that it is inherited suggests a genetic cause. It is usually dominant, which means about 50% of an affected person's children will be affected.
If you inherit one copy of the gene from either parent, you will have the disorder.
Symptoms Return to top
Signs and tests Return to top
Diagnosis is usually made on the basis of the patient's history and an examination that reveals tremors on voluntary movement with no changes in gait or coordination. There are usually no other abnormalities (such as dementia) or changes in mental status or brain function.Treatment Return to top
Treatment may not be necessary unless tremors interfere with the patient's ability to perform daily activities.Expectations (prognosis) Return to top
A familial tremor is not a dangerous condition, but it can be annoying and embarrassing. If it is severe, it can mildly interfere with activities, especially fine-motor skills such as writing. Feeding yourself can be a problem. Speech is occasionally involved.Complications Return to top
Side effects of medications may cause complications.Calling your health care provider Return to top
Call your health care provider if tremors occur and there is a family history of tremors or if a familial tremor is interfering with ability to perform daily activities.
Call your health care provider if side effects of medications occur, such as fainting, very slow heart rate, confusion or changes in alertness, or prolonged nausea/vomiting.
Update Date: 7/20/2004 Updated by: Joseph V. Campellone, M.D., Division of Neurology, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |