Night Terrors in Children and Toddlers

Night terrors in toddlers are terrifying for children and parents alike. A night terror is a parasomnia, a type of sleep disorder characterized by unwanted activity during sleep.
Night terrors — also referred to as "sleep terrors" — affect up to 6 percent of children, according to the Nemours Foundation (2007). Although rare, adults may also experience night terrors.

Nightmares in Children or Night Terrors?

Night terrors are not, as many people suppose, especially vivid nightmares. Nightmares in children are vivid, frightening dreams that occur during REM sleep. Upon awakening from a nightmare, the child will be confused and frightened, but responds to soothing and comforting. The child will probably remember the scary dream in detail.
Unlike nightmares in children, night terrors occur during the deepest stages of sleep, when dreaming does not occur. The child rarely remembers a night terror. Night terrors in children can produce dramatic physical responses, such kicking, thrashing and screaming. As the child is still asleep, comforting is ineffectual.

A Typical Night Terror

During a typical night terror, the child may sit up in bed quite suddenly, screaming uncontrollably or calling for help. This may be followed by bolting from the bed and attempting to flee the "threat." Attempts to hold or soothe the child may cause more frenzied struggling. Night terrors typically occur within two or three hours of falling asleep.
When a night terror occurs, the child may blunder into or through doors and windows. Physically, the child may be sweating, his heart rate increases, and his pupils seem unusually large, giving him the "possessed" look that often accompanies the disorder. As the night terror winds down, the child slowly calms, and can eventually return to bed.

Stress and Other Causes of Night Terrors

Immature central nervous systems may be the cause of night terrors in toddlers, although some people never outgrow the disorder. Triggers may include medication side effects, fatigue and stress.
Night terrors may have a genetic cause. Children who experience night terrors have an 80 percent chance of having a parent who also had night terrors as a child, according to the Nemours Foundation (2007).
Night terrors in toddlers are occasionally associated with childhood sleep apnea, which causes pauses in breathing while asleep.

Controlling Night Terrors

The best way to deal with night terrors in children is to let the event pass by itself. This doesn't mean you should ignore the child, whose panic may place them in danger, but it does mean that the initial urge to restrain children is a mistake. Instead, try these suggestions:
Avoid hugging and holding unless the child needs to be restrained for protection.Keep obstacles in the room to a minimum (such as items on floor that could be tripped over). Stay between children and dangerous locations (stairs or windows). Talk calmly and constantly.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pernicious Anemia: Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Image
Anemia  is a blood disorder in which the number of red blood cells or the amount of hemoglobin is lower than normal. With fewer red blood cells or hemoglobin, insufficient oxygen is delivered to the body 's cells. Pernicious anemia  is a type of anemia caused by a deficiency in vitamin B12. In pernicious anemia, the lack of vitamin B12 is due to the body 's inability to produce enough  intrinsic factor , a protein necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12. Pernicious anemia is a type of  megaloblastic anemia . Megaloblastic anemia is defined as, "a blood disorder characterized by anemia, with red blood cells that are larger than normal, usually resulting from a deficiency of folic acid or of vitamin B12 .  " (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Pernicious anemia by any other name . . . Pernicious anemia is known by a number of other names, including: macrocytic achylic anemia congenital pernicious anemia juvenile pernicious anemia vitamin B12 deficienc
Keep reading

Stress Relaxation Techniques

The ultimate goal in stress coping and management is to reduce the negative effects of stress. Different relaxation techniques have proved successful and can be used based on individual preference. Brief descriptions of various techniques follow. If you are interested in pursuing the use of these techniques further, more information is available in books or on tapes. These books and tapes can be purchased at bookstores or may be accessible at your library. Deep Breating as a Relaxation Technique Deep breathing is the most basic relaxation technique and is often the foundation for other methods. The primary benefit is that deep breathing can be done anywhere and anytime. It is beneficial to practice deep breathing several times a day. The methodology consists of completely filling the lungs when breathing so that the abdomen expands out ward. You begin by taking a deep breath and then exhaling slowly through the mouth. A hand can be placed on the stomach to ensure that it is fully e
Keep reading

Nutrition & Cystic Fibrosis

Image
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects the body's exocrine glands, including the various mucus and sweat glands found throughout the body. Since cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease, most people with the disease are usually diagnosed by their first birthday. The most common problems due to cystic fibrosis are related to the lungs and the digestive system. In the lungs, the mucus produced by the various exocrine glands is abnormally thick, creating obstructions in the breathing passageways and, eventually, damage to the lungs. Furthermore, the thick mucus creates an ideal breeding ground for various bacteria and other organisms, which results in frequent lung infections, damage to the lungs and, ultimately, respiratory failure. Cystic fibrosis also affects the pancreas. The pancreas is responsible for producing various enzymes to aid in digestion, but in cystic fibrosis the pancreas is unable to excrete sufficient amounts of pancreatic enzymes to help digest foo
Keep reading