12 year-old sneezing 10,000+ times a day.

[Contrary1]

Poor thing. I hope someone can help her soon.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/33853223#33853223

[dugaresa]

1. hope they can help her, i watched the video, wonder if it is a tic?

i have met people with Tourettes that have exhibited stuff similar to that.

[CoffeeCat]

3. I just watched the whole video...

Did anyone else notice that when Ann Curry asked the little girl if
something was bothering her or causing her to worry--the sneezing got
worse?

Dr. Nancy said this is more psychological, and it's not a true sneeze through
the mouth.

Something is going on. You have to wonder if this girl isn't being abused
by someone...or if some stress is happening at school that she feels she
can't discuss.

Her mom is on tv, where is her father?

[dugaresa]

5. i have a family member who has a throat clearing tic

and a spitting tic.

The throat clearing is worse when the person is nervous. It will subside.

The spitting tic is kind of ritualistic. Certain things will set it off but it isn't constant.

That is why I think this girl's sneezing is more of a tic and not a medical issue. It could be related to stress.

[mzmolly]

11. I agree. It's a tic.

Sleep is important and a lack of it can increase ticcing in those who are vulnerable. Often tics are preceded by things like colds, which initiate a repetitive response. For example a cold can cause a lingering sniffling tic. In her case a cold brought about the sneezing tic.

[nickinSTL]

7. to the mom's credit, when Dr. Nancy was talking

about it being a psychological thing, or a tic, she didn't get all weird and defensive (and Nancy said she'd cleared the discussion with her ahead of time, so she wasn't being ambushed) - so it seems that the mom genuinely wants the girl to get help.

[mzmolly]

12. Right, But tics are not generally psychological in nature.

The Dr. misunderstands tic conditions unfortunately. The child appeared calm and well adjusted. She just has a tic. If that's her only tic, it will likely pass.

[mzmolly]

9. Tics are not caused by abuse.

They're neurological in nature and can be exacerbated by excitement or stress.

[flow_urgirl]

14. So if..

A tic is not in response to abuse as such then what do you think is felt when the abuse happens? Happiness? A gentle smile? No. Fear, anticipation or even an-tic-ipation of anger, or foul words in put downs or worse, of violence. Of a need to run away from the abuse. I mean come on!! Look at what abuse is before you claim it will not cause a tic!!

[mzmolly]

17. That's right. It is not the cause of tics. Nor was it the cause of this child's

disorder. http://www.emaxhealth.com/1506/50/34672/doctors-diagnose-girl-who-sneezes-12000-times.html

Abuse causes all sorts of things, often quiet, overly compliant children are the result, frankly.

[mzmolly]

13. I'm confident

it's a tic. It may just be a transient tic that will pass, or she may end up with at TS diagnosis, but I doubt she will given she's 12 and hasn't had other notable tics.

As many as 1 in 5 children experience some kind of ticcish behavior that will pass in time. It's amazing we don't know how to better recognize them?

[CoffeeCat]

2. This happened to Jan Brady...

It was Tiger the Dog's flea powder.

I feel sorry for this adorable little girl. I hope they figure out the problem.

Isn't sneezing a reflex? Is it related to light?

Their lawn looks pretty lush and green. Possibly lawn chemicals?

[Contrary1]

4. It doesn't come across as an allergic reaction to me...

The sneezes don't seem to be productive, and it doesn't look like her eyes are affected like someone who is suffering from allergies.

My daughter is allergic to just about everything here in Indiana. Lately, her eyes are so sensitive, she can barely keep them open. She can't go anywhere without a box of tissues.

[Warpy]

6. I had horrible hay fever when I was a kid

and sometimes the sneezing fits would last and last.

I think my record was 46 sneezes in a row.

[Techn0Girl]

8. In Related News , Kleenex stock goes up 10 points

[laughingliberal]

15. Lol! nt

[mzmolly]

10. That's not a sneeze, it's a tic.

It will likely pass as most childhood tics do.

http://www.wemove.org/tics/tic.html

Tics are intermittent, repeated, stereotyped movements or sounds that may occur in an infrequent or almost continuous manner. Tics may be "simple," such as a cough, grunt, facial twitch, or shoulder shrug, or "complex," such as a word, phrase, or a stereotyped sequence of movements. Although tics appear similar to normal movement, they are not voluntary. There is often a sense of a build-up of the need to tic; this need increases if the child attempts to prevent the movement. Once the movement is made, there is a sense of temporary relief until the sense of the need for the movement begins again. The child may incorporate the tic movement into an apparently voluntary gesture; this is done in an attempt to avoid embarrassment.

[mzmolly]

16. UPDATE - the girl was diagnosed with a tic disorder that follows

infection. The condition is known as PANDAS

http://www.emaxhealth.com/1506/50/34672/doctors-diagnose-girl-who-sneezes-12000-times.html