Question

A mother brings her 8 year old son to the family physician because of strange behavior for the past year that appears to be getting worse. For the past twelve months, the patient's mother has noted episodes of repetitive blinking or grimacing. These episodes appear to be beyond her son's control, and often occur at inopportune times. The patient is now being teased at school by his classmates for these behaviors. During the patient interview, the child appears to be listening intently to the conversation with his mother; there is a minute or so of rapid, repetitive blinking followed by several grunting noises from the patient. When asked, the child is aware of the blinking and grunting, but cannot explain why he was doing it. The patient denies hallucinations or bizarre thoughts and states that his mood is fine. He does well in school and has a close group of friends in his neighborhood who he enjoys playing with. His growth and development are within normal limits. What is the most likely diagnosis in this patient?

A. Autism
B. Rett syndrome
C. Tourette syndrome
D. Syndenham chorea
E. ADHD

Answer 1

The 8-year-old boy is most likely experiencing Tourette syndrome, which is evident from the involuntary tics like repetitive blinking and grunting, fitting the criteria for this diagnosis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most likely diagnosis for the 8-year-old boy experiencing episodes of repetitive blinking, grimacing, and grunting noises that seem beyond his control is C. Tourette syndrome. This condition is characterized by involuntary vocal sounds and movements, known as tics.

Given the description, the symptoms fit the criteria for Tourette syndrome, which includes awareness of the tics without an understanding or ability to explain why they occur. The other options, such as Autism or ADHD, tend to present with broader behavioral or social communication issues, which are not the primary concern in this scenario based on the information provided.