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Severe Tremor In Hand And Shuffling Gait. Had Been Subjected To Orange Defoliant Agent. Side Effect Or Parkinsons?
A friend of ours is around 65 and served in viet nam he was subjected to the agent orange defoliant as he was out in the bush a month at a time.He has a severe tremor of his right hand and says that some mornings it flops in different directions and he also has a shuffling walk as well . I am very concerned about him and wondered what this might be. I had thought about Parkinsons but he doesn't have most of the symptoms. what other types of things could be at the cause.. Thank you Linda
Fri, 8 Nov 2013
Hi there,
Thanks for your query.
From the information provided, I feel it is the early stage (graded as Stage 1) of Parkinson's disease. It usually starts with involvement of one limb, with or without shuffling gait. As the disease progresses, other symptoms show up.
Though Parkinson's is age-related, due to gradual degeneration of a particular area of the brain, it can also occur following a brain infection (encephalitis), head injury or a mild stroke damaging the concerned part of the brain.
Ask your friend to consult a neurologist who will prescribe appropriate medicines to control these symptoms.
Hope you find my response helpful, informative and enlightening.
Dr. Rakesh Karanwal
Thanks for your query.
From the information provided, I feel it is the early stage (graded as Stage 1) of Parkinson's disease. It usually starts with involvement of one limb, with or without shuffling gait. As the disease progresses, other symptoms show up.
Though Parkinson's is age-related, due to gradual degeneration of a particular area of the brain, it can also occur following a brain infection (encephalitis), head injury or a mild stroke damaging the concerned part of the brain.
Ask your friend to consult a neurologist who will prescribe appropriate medicines to control these symptoms.
Hope you find my response helpful, informative and enlightening.
Dr. Rakesh Karanwal
I find this answer helpful
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