Tourette Syndrome in Children Under 9 Increases by 5.9% Annually... Safety Accidents Decrease by 6.6% Each Year

National Health Insurance Service
Announces '2016-2020 Medical Status of Safety Accidents and Tourette Syndrome in Children Under 9 Years Old'

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] Safety accidents among children under the age of 9 decreased by 15.2% in 2020 compared to the previous year. On the other hand, the number of patients under 9 years old receiving treatment for Tourette syndrome increased by 12.5% during the same period.

According to the "2016?2020 Status of Safety Accidents and Tourette Syndrome Treatment in Children Under 9" announced by the National Health Insurance Service on the 19th, the number of children treated for safety accidents decreased by 24%, from about 427,000 in 2016 to about 324,000 in 2020. This corresponds to an average annual decrease of 6.6%. In particular, in 2020, the number decreased by 15.2% compared to 2019, showing a significant decline.

On the other hand, the number of children receiving treatment for Tourette syndrome has been steadily increasing. Tourette syndrome, also known as "tic disorder," refers to the involuntary rapid and repetitive movements of parts of the body such as the face, neck, shoulders, or torso, or making unusual sounds without any particular reason.

The number of children treated for Tourette syndrome increased by a total of 25.9%, from 1,897 in 2016 to 2,388 in 2020. The average annual growth rate was 5.9%. In 2020, it increased by 12.5% compared to the previous year. By gender, 1,842 (77.1%) were male and 546 (22.9%) were female.

Tourette syndrome is known to be a disease with a strong genetic component. The prevalence of tics among immediate family members of patients diagnosed with Tourette syndrome is about 25%. However, reports also indicate that environmental factors such as pregnancy and perinatal problems, immunological factors, stress, and hormonal abnormalities are related, in addition to genetic factors.

Professor Ahn Jae-eun of the Department of Psychiatry at National Health Insurance Ilsan Hospital explained, "When symptoms of Tourette syndrome appear, it is important to primarily provide accurate information and education about tics to the patient and their family." She added, "Reducing unnecessary anxiety about Tourette syndrome and minimizing blame and avoidance of responsibility within the family should be prioritized." She further noted, "The main treatment methods include medication, habit reversal training, and response prevention training, which are behavioral therapies."

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