Children's sleep disorders

Sleep is one of the main pillars of health and growth in childhood. Children need sleep much more than adults, because adequate sleep plays a vital role in physical growth, brain development, learning consolidation, immune system strengthening and mood regulation.

Unfortunately, however, sleep disorders in children are more common than one might think and can cause great challenges for both children and families. Recognizing these disorders and knowing the ways to diagnose and treat them is an important step towards improving the quality of life of children.

The importance of sleep in children

Quality sleep is essential for children because:

Physical growth: growth hormone is mainly secreted during deep sleep.

Brain development and learning: sleep helps consolidate information learned during the day and strengthens memory and cognitive abilities.

Regulating mood and behavior: Lack of sleep can lead to irritability, restlessness, concentration problems, and hyperactivity.

Strengthening the immune system: enough sleep helps the body fight infections.

Mental health: insufficient sleep is associated with an increased risk of depression and anxiety in children and adolescents.

Common types of sleep disorders in children

Sleep disorders in children have a wide range and can take different forms. Some of the most common ones are:

Insomnia:

Sleep-Onset Insomnia: Difficulty falling asleep at the beginning of the night. This can be caused by not following the sleep routine, anxiety, or environmental stimuli.

Sleep Maintenance Insomnia: frequent awakenings during the night and difficulty in returning to sleep.

Behavioral insomnia: This is the most common type of insomnia in young children, which is caused by inappropriate sleeping habits (such as dependence on the presence of parents or bottle feeding).

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA):

In this disorder, the child's airway is repeatedly and partially or completely blocked during sleep, which leads to breathing interruption (apnea), loud snoring, pauses in breathing, and frequent awakenings.

The most common cause is the size of the tonsils (third tonsil) and adenoid (pharyngeal tonsil).

Its side effects include daily fatigue, concentration problems, hyperactivity and in more severe cases, cardiovascular problems.

Parasomnias:

Abnormal or unwanted behaviors that occur during sleep. These disorders are usually harmless and improve with age, but can be worrying for parents.

Night terrors: the child suddenly wakes up during deep sleep with a scream and intense fear, but is not fully awake, usually does not recognize the parents and does not remember anything the next morning.

Nightmares: scary dreams that usually happen in the second half of the night and during REM sleep. After waking up, the child remembers the nightmare and may be anxious.

Sleepwalking: the child walks, talks or does things during deep sleep that he does not remember in the morning.

Bruxism: teeth grinding against each other during sleep.

Nocturnal enuresis: Wetting the bed at the age when the child is expected to control urination.

Narcolepsy:

A chronic neurological disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden attacks of sleep (uncontrollable somnolence attacks).

It may also be accompanied by cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone in response to strong emotions).

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS):

An unpleasant and indescribable feeling in the legs (sometimes in the hands) accompanied by a strong desire to move them, especially when resting or going to sleep.

These feelings improve with movement but can disrupt sleep.

Circadian Rhythm Disorders:

They happen when the biological clock of the child's body is not in sync with his natural sleep-wake pattern. This can be due to long flights (Jet Lag), parents' shift work or excessive use of electronic devices at night.

Causes of sleep disorders in children

The reasons for sleep disorders can be very diverse:

behavioral and environmental factors
Medical factors
Psychological factors
Genetic factors

Diagnosis of children's sleep disorders

Accurate diagnosis of sleep disorders requires evaluation by sleep specialists, pediatric neurologists, or child and adolescent psychiatrists. The diagnosis process usually includes:

Complete sleep history
Sleep notebook
Clinical examination
sleep study
Treatment of children's sleep disorders

Treatment is different depending on the type and cause of sleep disorder:

Behavioral interventions and sleep hygiene
Medical treatments
Management of underlying diseases
Psychotherapy and counseling

Summary

Sleep disorders in children can not only lead to fatigue and irritability, but also negatively affect their academic abilities, social relationships and overall health.

Parents should pay attention to the symptoms of sleep disorders in their children and consult a specialist if persistent problems are observed. With timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment, children can be helped to enjoy restful and quality sleep and develop their full potential for growth and development.

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