Sleep in children and teenagers is a common concern among parents and physicians. Habits that combine quality and quantity of resting hours are essential for positive behavioral/cognitive, emotional, and physical development.
The most common signs of sleep disorders in children can be subtle, such as excessive irritability and crying, aggressiveness, lack of concentration, dark circles under the eyes, isolation, and, if the child is already in school, difficulty keeping up with the class.
Several factors can affect children's sleep quality, including medication, systemic diseases, environmental conditions, and developmental stages. However, after a proper diagnosis, sleep hygiene alone can often be an effective treatment without needing medication.
Most Common Sleep Disorders in Children
The most common sleep disorders in children are:
- Insomnia: Difficulty starting and maintaining sleep. Children who suffer from this disorder usually wake up earlier than expected and have difficulty starting sleep without parental intervention. Therefore, this situation results in stress and exhaustion among children.
- PediatricObstructive Sleep Apnea: This type of sleep apnea is characterized by a partial or complete obstruction of the upper airways, causing respiratory effort. Its main cause is adenotonsillar hypertrophy, known as “fluffy meat”. A decrease in airflow can lead to a deficiency in blood oxygenation. This syndrome must be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible since it can lead to serious consequences for the child’s development, such as facial alterations and learning difficulties, among others.
- Parasomnia: A benign sleep disorder associated with growth and development that tends to fade with age. It occurs due to incomplete awakening and may happen during non-REM (NREM) and REM sleep. On the one hand, NREM parasomnia tends to take place in the first half of the night. The most common cases in childhood include confusional arousal, sleepwalking, and night terrors. On the other hand, REM parasomnia usually happens during the second half of the night, manifesting as nightmares and nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting).
- Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS): A sensorimotor disorder with neurological aspects that mainly affects sleep and quality of life in children or adolescents. Patients describe an irresistible need to move their legs, usually accompanied by an unpleasant, uncomfortable, and/or disturbing sensation.
- Night Terrors: These are extremely distressing for parents as they involve the child becoming agitated, with eyes open, crying and shouting, yet not awake. Despite being frightening, night terrors are a benign manifestation and do not pose a health or developmental risk for the child. The state of trance can last up to 15 minutes, after which the child goes back to sleep normally.
Some conditions, such as most parasomnias, are benign and resolve spontaneously over time, whereas apnea requires clinical evaluation to identify the cause and specific treatment. The pediatrician plays a fundamental role in the diagnosis and, when necessary, refers for specialized evaluation.
For diagnosis, in addition to clinical evaluation, a polysomnography (sleep study) may be indicated. During the consultation, questions about the child's routine and details regarding the family environment related to the child's sleep should be asked.
The Biologix Sleep Test® is a type IV polysomnography that measures channels such as oxygen saturation, heart rate, actimetry and snoring through the microphone of a cellphone. This test can be performed at home and is simple, practical, and effective. Furthermore, healthcare practitioners use it for diagnosing and treating sleep apnea. At bedtime, the patient only needs to place the sensor on their finger and start the test in the Biologix app. Upon waking up the next morning, they tap on “Finish test”, and they will receive their results in a matter of seconds.
Talk with a pediatritian about performing the Biologix Sleep Test® on children and adolescents.
IMPORTANT! Only properly qualified physicians and dental surgeons can diagnose diseases, recommend treatments and prescribe medications. The information available herein is for educational purposes only..
