Night Terror in Children

What is Night Terror in Children

A night terror is an episode in which someone who is sleeping becomes extremely frightened and is unable to fully wake up.

Night terrors should not be confused with nightmares.

When the episode is finished, the person normally settles back to sleep. Upon waking, he or she does not remember the episode.

Night terrors are most common in children who are 3–7 years old, but they can affect people of any age.

They usually begin 1–3 hours after the person falls asleep, and usually last for several minutes.

Nightmares occur in the early morning and involve unpleasant or frightening dreams.

What are the causes?

Common causes of this condition include:

• A stressful physical or emotional event.
• Fever.
• Lack of sleep.
• Medicines that affect the brain.
• Sleeping in a new place.
• Underlying disorder of the nervous system (neurologic disorder).
• Underlying mental (psychiatric) disorder.

Sometimes a night terror is associated with a medical condition, such as sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, or migraines.

What increases the risk?

A child is more likely to develop this condition if others in the family have had night terrors.

Genes that are associated with this condition are likely to be passed from parent to child.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of this condition include:

• Gasping, moaning, crying, or screaming.
• Thrashing around.
• Sitting up in bed.
• Rapid heart rate and breathing.
• Sweating.
• Staring.
• Seeming awake but:
  • Being unresponsive.
  • Being dazed or confused and not talking.
  • Being unaware of your presence.
• Inability to remember the event in the morning.
• Sleepwalking.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed with a medical history and a physical exam. Tests may be ordered to look for other problems or to rule them out. They may include:

• Sleep tests.
• Mental health screenings.

How is this treated?

Treatment is often not needed for this condition. Most children who have night terrors stop having them by the time they reach adolescence.

If your child has night terrors often, you may help prevent them by waking your child about 30 minutes before the terrors usually start.

Medicine may be given for severe night terrors.

This is usually done for a short time.

Follow these instructions at home:

During episodes:

• Stay with your child until the episode passes. This ensures the child’s safety.
• Gently restrain your child if he or she is in danger of getting hurt.
• Do not shake your child.
• Do not try to wake your child.
• Do not shout.

If your child has night terrors often:

• Keep track of your child’s sleeping habits.
• Figure out how many minutes usually pass from the time he or she falls asleep to the time when a night terror occurs.
• Then, follow these steps each night for 7 nights:
  • Wake your child 30 minutes before he or she usually has a night terror.
  • Get your child out of bed and keep him or her awake for 5 minutes by talking to him or her.
  • Let your child go back to sleep.

These actions may help to prevent your child’s night terrors.

General instructions

• Keep a consistent bedtime and wake-up time for your child.
• Make sure that your child gets enough sleep.
• Remove anything in the sleeping area that could hurt your child.
• If your child sleeps in a bunk bed, do not allow him or her to sleep in the top bunk.
• Help to limit your child’s stress. Relax your child and comfort him or her at bedtime.
• Tell your family and babysitters what to expect.
• Give over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s health care provider.
• Do not give your child any food or drinks that contain caffeine.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if your child:

• Has more frequent or more severe night terrors.
• Gets hurt during a night terror.
• Is not being helped by medicines or other measures that were prescribed.
• Is very tired during the day.
• Is afraid to go to sleep.

Summary

• A night terror is an episode in which a person who is sleeping becomes extremely frightened but is unable to fully wake up.
• When the episode is finished, the person normally settles back to sleep.
• Treatment is often not needed for this condition.
• Most children who have night terrors stop having them by the time they reach adolescence.
• Follow the health care provider’s instructions about staying with your child during night terrors, taking steps to prevent episodes, giving medicines to your child, and keeping all follow-up visits.