Tics, tremors and other movement disorders in childhood.

Movement disorders presenting in childhood include tics, dystonia, chorea, tremor, stereotypy, myoclonus, and parkinsonism, each of which can be part of various clinical syndromes with distinct etiologies.  Some of these conditions are benign and require only reassurance; others are bothersome and require treatment, or may be clues that herald underlying pathology.  Answers lie in the inherent characteristics of the movements themselves, together with the clinical context provided in the history obtained by the examiner.  The aim of this review is to present an overview of the categories of involuntary movements, along with examples of common acquired and genetic causes, and an approach to history-taking, examination, and treatment.