Night terrors are sleep disorders in which a person wakes up quickly from sleep in a terrified state.
Their origin is unknown although they can be hereditary. They are usually triggered by fever, lack of sleep and/or periods of emotional tension or stress. They are more common in children between the ages of 3 and 7 years and during the first third of the night. They can occur in adults, particularly in cases of emotional tension or alcohol consumption.
Children often scream, are very scared and confused, beat violently around them and are often unaware of their surroundings. They may not be able to respond when spoken to, comforted or awakened. They may be sweating, breathing very fast (hyperventilation), having a fast heart rate and dilated pupils. The episode can last from 10 to 20 minutes and after that period the child goes back to sleep. Most are not able to explain what happened the next morning. Often, there is no memory of the fact when they wake up the next day. Children with night terrors may also sleepwalk.
It is diagnosed through detailed clinical questioning.
The treatment is based on comfort, trying to reduce stress or using coping mechanisms. In some cases, psychotherapy may be necessary.
- Suresh Kotagal, MD. Sleepwalking and other parasomnias in children. Uptodate. May 25, 2016.
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine. International Classification of Sleep Disorders, 3rd ed, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Darien, IL 2014.
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- Petit D, Pennestri MH, Paquet J, et al. Childhood Sleepwalking and Sleep Terrors: A Longitudinal Study of Prevalence and Familial Aggregation. JAMA Pediatr 2015; 169:653.
- Kotagal S, Nichols CD, Grigg-Damberger MM, et al. Non-respiratory indications for polysomnography and related procedures in children: an evidence-based review. Sleep 2012; 35:1451.
