Pediatric Medicine

Answer 5 Night terrors. Night terrors are common in boys between age 5 and 7 years. They generally occur during stage 3 or 4 of slow wave sleep, as opposed to nightmares, which occur during rapid eye movement sleep and are often remembered. Although night terrors may be associated with an underlying emotional problem, they are not generally associated with significant psychiatric illness. Seizures may interrupt sleep but are not associated with screaming and the appearance of fright. Sleep apnea is also associated with sleep disturbances but is generally manifested as snoring and restlessness. SUGGESTED READINGS 1. Behrman RE, Kliegman RM, Jenson HB, editors. Nelson textbook of pediatrics. 16th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Co; 2000. 2. Gunn VL, Nechyba C, editors. The Harriet Lane handbook: a manual for pediatric house officers. 16th ed. Philadelphia: Mosby; 2002. Click here to return to the questions

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