Familial tremor

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Central nervous system

Familial tremor

Alternative Names:

Tremor - familial
Symptoms:

Tremors
- Occasional (sporadic), temporary (episodic), or ceasing at intervals (intermittent)
- A rate of about 6 to 10 per second (when tremors are occurring)
- Affecting the head, hands, arms, eyelids or voice
- Less commonly affect the lower body
- May not affect both sides of the body equally
Tremors that worsen with voluntary movement and emotional stress
Tremors that disappear during sleep
Tremors that may improve with alcohol

Signs and tests:

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Diagnosis is usually made on the basis of the patient's history and an examination that reveals tremors on voluntary movement with no changes in gait or coordination. There are usually no other abnormalities (such as dementia) or changes in mental status or brain function.

No other tests may be required. However, testing may be used to rule out other causes of tremors such as excessive caffeine intake, alcohol withdrawal, medication use, hyperthyroidism, pheochromocytoma, Wilson's disease, or other disorders. Laboratory tests and a head CT scan, MRI, X-rays, angiography, or other tests are usually normal.