Dyssomnias in children

Last reviewed: 22 Feb 2023
Last updated: 14 Mar 2023

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • presence of risk factors
  • snoring, gasping, choking while asleep (obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • night sweats (obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • breathing through an open mouth (obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • sleeping with hyperextended neck (obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • restless sleep and periodic limb movements (obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • secondary nocturnal enuresis (obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • hypertension (obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • inability to fall asleep (sleep association disorder)
  • cataplexy (narcolepsy)
  • hypnagogic or hypnopompic hallucinations (narcolepsy)
  • sleep paralysis (narcolepsy)
  • erratic sleep schedule (delayed sleep phase disorder/syndrome)
More key diagnostic factors

Other diagnostic factors

  • excessive daytime sleepiness
  • difficulty awakening in the morning
  • sleepwalking or talking (obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • sleep attacks (narcolepsy)
  • refusal to sleep in own bedroom (sleep association or limit-setting disorder)
Other diagnostic factors

Risk factors

  • craniofacial abnormalities (obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • adenotonsillar hypertrophy (obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • macroglossia (obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • gastro-oesophageal reflux (obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • allergic rhinitis (obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • environmental tobacco smoke exposure (obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • obesity (obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • hypotonia (obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • alcohol (obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • medications (obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • Down's syndrome (obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • evening light exposure (delayed sleep phase disorder/syndrome)
  • inconsistent parenting style (limit-setting disorder)
  • age <6 years (behavioural insomnia of childhood or obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • adolescent age (delayed sleep phase disorder/syndrome)
  • distractions in bedroom (delayed sleep phase disorder/syndrome)
More risk factors

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • sleep diary
  • polysomnogram (PSG)
  • multiple sleep latency test (MSLT)
More 1st investigations to order

Investigations to consider

  • lateral neck films
  • nasal endoscopy
  • overnight oximetry
  • actigraphy
  • audiovisual recording
  • HLA typing
More investigations to consider

Emerging tests

  • pneumogram
  • cerebrospinal fluid hypocretin levels

Treatment algorithm

ONGOING

obstructive sleep apnoea

behavioural insomnia of childhood: sleep-onset association disorder

behavioural insomnia of childhood: limit-setting disorder

delayed sleep phase disorder/syndrome

narcolepsy

Contributors

Authors

Dennis Rosen, MD

Associate Medical Director

Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders

Boston Children's Hospital

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Harvard Medical School

Boston

MA

Disclosures

DR declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Paul Gringras, MB, ChB, MSc, MRCPCH

Consultant in Paediatric Neurodisability

Evelina Children's Hospital

St Thomas' Hospital

London

UK

Disclosures

PG is lead applicant on the ongoing MENDS trial, which is concerned with the use of melatonin in children with neurodevelopmental disorders and impaired sleep.

Leila Kheirandish Gozal, MD

Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Division of Pediatric Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine

University of Chicago

Chicago

IL

Disclosures

LKG is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.

  • Differentials

    • Primary snoring
    • Central sleep apnoea
    • Anxiety
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  • Guidelines

    • Age and weight considerations for the use of continuous positive airway pressure therapy in pediatric populations: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement
    • Clinical practice guideline: tonsillectomy in children (update)
    More Guidelines
  • Patient leaflets

    Insomnia

    Adenoidectomy

    More Patient leaflets
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