Oral Pharmacotherapy of Childhood Movement Disorders

Movement disorders, a common problem in children with neurologic impairment, are receiving increasing clinical attention. The differences in movement disorders between adults and children are striking; presentation is frequently insidious and may be characterized by mild hypotonia. The clinical manifestations of extrapyramidal disorders are profoundly influenced by the age of onset. The conditions reviewed in this article are expressed clinically by the occurrence of abnormalities of movement and posture, often in association with disturbances of muscle tone. This article reviews empiric drug use and recommendations for childhood movement disorders. (J Child Neurol 2003;18:S40—S49).