**8. Conclusions and final remarks**

Ataxia can be difficult to diagnose in children. It may be undetected mainly in very young children and incorrectly related to a delay of coordination. The differential diagnosis of ataxia remains challenging. An increasing number of diseases are described, and the phenotypes are not always typical. A complete medical history and a detailed physical examination are keys to an adequate approach. It is important to always identify the time course of onset and associated manifestations. The causes of ataxia are various and have different prognoses that can range from transient and benign to particularly severe conditions. Ataxias manifest in various forms: acute, intermittent, chronic non-progressive, and chronic progressive. Acute ataxias predominantly arise from acquired causes such as post-infectious or immunemediated conditions. Intermittent ataxias may stem from genetic channelopathies or metabolic disorders. Non-progressive chronic ataxias primarily result from cerebellar malformations, whereas progressive chronic ataxias commonly arise from genetic variants, which in children tend to be autosomal recessive conditions. It is imperative to consider treatable disorders. New genetic diagnostic techniques have emerged, enabling the identification of specific pathologies. However, a comprehensive description of the clinical and laboratory phenotypes of each patient is necessary to guide the genetic study and interpret the results. While there are currently limited treatable conditions, ongoing studies are proposing promising treatments for

*Childhood-Onset Ataxia DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.112968*

certain pathologies soon, thereby increasing the importance of accurate diagnostic approaches. Physical therapy is an important part of treatment. Occupational therapy, and speech or language therapy are also part of the symptomatic therapy.
