Tremors are rhythmic, oscillating, shaking movements over which a person has no control. Most tremors in children and adults occur in the hands, and depending on the severity, they may make it difficult to perform daily manual tasks. Uncontrollable shaking of hands may also make a child feel self-conscious. A few conditions may cause hand tremors in children. It is important for parents to be educated about these conditions to determine if medical attention is necessary.
Wilson's Disease
Wilson's Disease is a rare, inherited disease caused by excess copper in the body. According to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, the livers of patients with Wilson's Disease are unable to process and eliminate the excess copper that enters the body through normal eating and drinking. As a result, copper builds up and causes damage to the liver, eyes, kidneys and even the brain. Symptoms of this life-threatening condition usually appear between the ages of 4 and 20 and include hand tremors, a rusty brown ring around the outer part of the eye seen during an eye exam, anemia, pain and leg swelling, weight loss and loss of appetite. As the condition progresses, symptoms include muscle tightening and difficulty speaking and swallowing.
Essential Tremor
Also known as familial tremors, essential tremors, or ET, is an inherited condition that causes hand tremors. Children and adults have a 50 percent chance of developing ET if they have one parent with the gene, although the condition is rare in children. This condition is not life threatening, but it usually worsens over time. According to MayoClinic.com, treatment options include physical therapy, medication and surgery. Children with ET should follow a caffeine-free diet and get plenty of rest, as caffeinated drinks and insufficient sleep can exacerbate tremors.
Graves' Disease
An overactive thyroid gland, responsible for the condition called Graves' disease or hyperthyroidism, is rare among children and teens, according to the Children's Hospital Boston website. Children born with this autoimmune disorder usually develop it in utero when a mother's thyroid antibodies cross the placenta and affect the fetal thyroid gland. Symptoms of Graves' disease include hand tremors, irritability, weight loss despite healthy eating, brittle hair and frequent bowel movements. Some people with Graves' disease experience the sensation that their eyes are popping out a bit; this condition is known as Graves' ophthalmopathy.
