1. A sudden outburst of emotion or action: a paroxysm of laughter.
2.
a. A sudden attack, recurrence, or intensification of a disease.
b. A spasm or fit; a convulsion.
[Middle English paroxism, periodic attack of a disease, from Medieval Latin paroxysmus, from Greek paroxusmos, from paroxūnein, to stimulate, irritate : para-, intensive pref.; see para-1 + oxūnein, to goad, sharpen (from oxus, sharp; see ak- in Indo-European roots).]
These symptoms, called migraine equivalents, include benign paroxysmal torticollis (episodes of uncontrollable neck twisting) of infancy, benign paroxysmal vertigo of infancy, abdominal pain, cyclic vomiting, aura without migraine, and confusional migraine.
In the 4-month- to 9-year-old age group, the cough becomes more paroxysmal. The key indicators of pertussis in this age group, according to the Global Pertussis Initiative algorithm, are worsening paroxysmal nonproductive cough of at least 7 days' duration in an afebrile child with nonpurulent coryza.
Thus, 30 patients with psychomotor retardation, 23 subjects with a psycho-speech disorder, 28 children with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) and 29 examinees with paroxysmal syndrome were included into the groups.
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