Salaam's cramp

Salaam's seizures are a rare mental disorder that manifests itself in involuntary rotational movements of the head around a vertical axis. The disease got its name from the name of an elderly knight from the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs.” The disease is also known as tic nervosa or pallidum.

This syndrome was first described in the 19th century by Philippe Paré in a book on epilepsy. However, only at the beginning of the 20th century it was identified as a separate nosology after the observations of Charles Eustachio. The French doctor was able to accurately describe the disease based on individual symptoms and their changes over time, but he could not explain the causes of the disease.

Usually the patient paradoxically has a sudden desire to turn his head to the side against his will. This occurs against a background of changes in thinking, emotions and motivations. Rotational movements are often chaotic and do not have a constant direction. For example, a person may turn their head slightly to the right, then sharply twist their head in the opposite direction and return back to their original position.

The term "Salaam's cramp" is used both in everyday life and in medicine. In everyday life, it usually means an episode with a quick turn of the head in the usual direction. The doctor uses this term to refer to convulsive manifestations of different parts of the body (for example, legs, arms) or the whole body. Salaamova's cramp is a sharp pain in the upper body with its involuntary rotation back.

Observations of patients suffering from Salaam syndrome show that a pain reaction occurs when exposed to an irritant that is perceived as dangerous. The patient may also experience additional discomfort during normal physical activities, such as walking, climbing stairs, etc.

Symptoms of Salam's cramp appear at different times. In order to undergo a medical commission for a specific appointment, the patient is invited for a long period of time.