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Childhood Illnesses
and Conditions
: Nightmares and Night Terrors in Children
One of the most common concerns of parents is sleep disturbances,
including nightmares and night terrors.
About Nightmares:
Nightmares occur quite commonly in young children. Typically, a child
with a nightmare wakes up completely, is very anxious, and usually
remembers the content of the dream vividly. Childhood nightmares require
no specific treatment, except for reassuring the frightened child.
Occasionally, when nightmares become more frequent or occur on a regular
basis, it may be a sign of stress in the child's life or environment.
Also, the content of the bad dream or nightmare may be a clue to what
is stressing the child. Therefore, extreme situations of persistent
nightmares may warrant evaluation of the child's family/social
environment and psychological state.
About Night Terrors:
Night terrors occur less commonly and are different from nightmares.
Typically, children with terrors are out of control, but still awake.
They may be sitting up in bed, appear frightened, staring with eyes
wide open. They may also be sweating, breathing heavily and complaining
of seeing peculiar things or objects that are not really there. This
period of "terror" may last for up to several minutes and then the
child will usually go back to sleep. What distinguishes night terrors
(which occur in less than 5% of children) from nightmares is that the
child does not recall the dream or event leading to the night terror,
and in many cases, does not recall that anything at all happened
during the night.
What Causes Nightmares and Night Terrors?
Although the exact cause of night terrors, nightmares and other sleep
disturbances, is not understood, they are thought to be a result of
waking up during a certain stage of the normal sleep cycle. Night
terrors occur during the Stage 4 or non-REM sleep period. Nightmares,
on the other hand, occur during another stage or during REM sleep.
Do Nightmares and Night Terrors Ever Stop?
Night terrors are generally infrequent and usually stop on their own
without specific treatment. In rare cases where night terrors are
frequent and/or associated with sleep walking, specific medications may be required. This occurs very rarely. Happily, most children outgrow both nightmares and night
terrors.
Other Childhood Illnesses
and Conditions |
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The information provided in this site is
designed to be an educational aid only. It is not intended to
replace the advice and care of your child's physician, nor is
it intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. If
you suspect that your child has a medical condition, always
consult a physician.
© Autograph Communications Inc.,
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