Insomnia, parasomnias, and narcolepsy in children: clinical features, diagnosis, and management. Issue 11 (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maski, Kiran; Owens, Judith A
• Is Part Of: Lancet neurology. Volume 15:Issue 11(2016:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1170
• Page End: 1181
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Neurology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.805
• DOI: 10.1016/S1474-4422(16)30204-6
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1474-4422

Abstract

Summary: Sleep problems are frequently encountered as presenting complaints in child neurology clinical practice. They can affect the functioning and quality of life of children, particularly those with primary neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders, since coexisting sleep problems can add substantially to neurocognitive and behavioural comorbidities. Additionally, symptoms of some sleep disorders such as parasomnias and narcolepsy can be confused with those of other neurological disorders (eg, epilepsy), posing diagnostic challenges for paediatric neurologists. The understanding of the neurophysiology of sleep disorders such as insomnia, parasomnias, and narcolepsy is still evolving. There is a complex relation between the sleeping brain and its waking function. The interplay among genetic factors, alterations in neurotransmitters, electrophysiological changes, and environmental factors potentially contribute to the genesis of these sleep disorders.