26 - Sleep Disorders of Childhood

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the sleep disorders of childhood. The types of sleep disorders that occur in adults also occur in children, such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, parasomnias, circadian rhythm disorders, and insomnia. All, however, have presentations that are peculiar to children, a fact that affects proper evaluation and treatment. Narcolepsy in children may present initially as a form of hypersomnolence with a single prolonged sleep period and only later as more classical daytime sleepiness that is improved with short, refreshing naps. Sleep apnea in children often looks more like an upper airway resistance syndrome than the typical pattern of clear-cut apneas and desaturations. Bedwetting at age 3 years reflects normal function and not enuresis. Confusional arousals are more frequent in children than sleepwalking or sleep terrors. However, the classes of childhood sleep disorders that are most different from the adult presentations are insomnias, or sleeplessness, particularly the forms seen in young children, especially if to the clinician includes circadian problems. The chapter focuses primarily on the discussion of factors that need to be considered when dealing with a young child who has difficulty falling asleep or remaining asleep.