Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
What is it?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
A mental behavioural disorder that tends to be noticed at an early age and includes symptoms such as restless, inattention (not listening to what is being said or giving your attention to what is happening), hyperactivity and impulsiveness, anxiety and sleep disorders.
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
Where one show symptoms of inattention (not listening to what is being said or giving your attention to what is happening), but not hyperactivity and impulsiveness, anxiety and sleep disorders hence it is difficult to diagnose.
Anyone can be affected not just persons with learning difficulties.
Symptoms usually begin before age 12 and last through adolescence.
Symptoms may continue into adulthood.
Monitor children:
Tremor and anxiety are common, as well as deterioration in schoolwork in children. This can mimic attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; thus, screening for hypertension (high blood pressure) in children evaluated for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is important.
Starting treatment with a stimulant medication in a child with an undiagnosed pheochromocytoma could potentially lead to an adrenergic crisis.
Waguespack SG, Rich T, Grubbs E, et al. A current review of the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010;95:2023-2037. Source
Batsis M, Dagalakis U, Stratakis CA, et al. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in pediatric patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. Horm Metab Res. 2016;48:509-513. Source
Cause
Unknown
Maybe:
Family history
Change of chemicals that are involved with behaviour in the brain
Psychological stress/exposure – child abuse or neglect, brought up in marriage difficulties, exposed to criminal behaviour, exposure to mental disorders i.e. parents have mental problems and poverty.
Conduct disorder – this often involves a tendency towards highly antisocial behaviour, such as stealing, fighting, vandalism and harming people or animals
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) – a condition that causes obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviour
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) – Negative and disruptive behaviour, particularly towards authority figures, such as parents and teachers
Personality disorders – conditions in which an individual differs significantly from the average person in terms of how they think, perceive, feel or relate to others
Sleep problems (insomnia) – Difficult to get to sleep at night, and having irregular sleeping patterns
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
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