INFANTILE TREMOR SYNDROME

Abstract

From May 1958 to October, 1963, 79 infants and young children, presenting a specific clinical syndrome with tremors as their predominating symptom, were studied. The disease affects children upto the age of 2 1/2 years. Males are affected more often than females. This condition is not familial and there is no evidence of hereditary transmission. There is an apparent seasonal incidence; the maximum number of cases being seen in the months of April, May and June. No history of perinatal disturbances, trauma, meningitis or encephalitis preceding this illness is available. The most constant and dominant feature of this clinical condition is the occurrence of tremors which are fine, fast oscillatory movements, of a very low range of amplitude, giving an appearance of a "shivering" child. These tremors are sudden in onset, attain their maximum intensity with 24[long dash]48 hr., persist for an average of 41. 3 days, and undergo a spontaneous remission. Except for a definite apathy, listlessness and reduction in spontaneous motor activity there is no evidence of any other neurological abnormality. Besides a constant finding of cerebral atrophy on pneumoencepha-lography and anemia in a large percentage of cases, the laboratory investigations were essentially normal.