SLEEP DISORDERS IN CHILDHOOD

Sleep disorders in childhood are frequent and usually harmless. They r arely point to a serious disease. Difficulty in falling asleep and nig htly awakenings are age-dependent and transitory. While the largely ha rmless somnambulism and paver nocturnus occur in the deep sleep of the first third of the night, the anxiety dreams of REM sleep appear pref erentially in the second half of the night. Other disorders such as en uresis nocturna and talking in sleep may occur during the whole night. It is very important to inform the parents because this helps to coun ter fears and false expectations. Consistent sleep hygiene needs to be developed with avoidance of irregular sleep rhythm and an unrestful s leep environment. Sometimes it is necessary to learn new behaviour pat terns with the child. Only exceptionally is drug therapy indicated. Ho wever, nocturnal breathing disorders and nocturnal epilepsy do have a pathological significance and need specific therapy. In order to clari fy the reasons for sleep disorders, it is necessary to keep a sleep di ary, to undertake specific examinations (e.g. psychological, pneumolog ical, neurological, urological, otorhinolaryngological and possibly us ing diagnostic equipment such as video-polysomnography).