Global Acute Dystonia: Understanding the Concerns Related to this Disease
Acute dystonia is a neurological movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions and twisting postures. It is caused by damage to the areas of the brain that control muscle tone and movement, known as the basal ganglia. The basal ganglia normally work to inhibit involuntary movements - when they are damaged or certain drugs interfere with their function, it can lead to dystonia developing.
Symptoms of Global Acute Dystonia
The main symptoms of acute dystonia include twisting postures or contractions of muscles in the face, neck, shoulders, arms, legs or tongue. Common symptoms are:
- Sustained blinking of the eyes or rolling of the eyes upward
- Neck arching or Acute Dystonia sideways
- Contortions of the mouth or tongue extending sideways
- Curling of the toes upward or inward twisting of the feet
- Clenching of fists or bending of fingers and wrists
These abnormal postures and contractions are generally sustained and prevent normal movements from occurring. The symptoms usually start abruptly and can fluctuate in severity over minutes to hours.
Causes of Global Acute Dystonia
The most common causes of acute dystonia include:
- Adverse drug reactions - Certain drugs like antipsychotics, anti-nausea medicines, and antidepressants are a frequent cause. Withdrawal from alcohol or benzodiazepines can also trigger it.
- Head injuries or trauma - Blows to the head that damage areas of the brainstem or basal ganglia.
- Infection or diseases - Viral infections like encephalitis, meningitis, or an underlying neurodegenerative disorder.
- Deficiencies - Low blood levels of magnesium can sometimes induce dystonia.
In many cases no obvious cause can be found, suggesting a genetic predisposition may play a role in developing acute dystonia in response to triggers in susceptible individuals. Females are slightly more likely to be affected, and it usually occurs in childhood or early adulthood.
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