Definition:
Night terror also known as pavor nocturnus, Night terrors are a sleep disorder in which a person quickly awakens
from sleep in a terrified state.
Diagnosis:
Children from age two to six are most prone to night terrors, and they affect about fifteen percent of all
children. Some adult night terror sufferers have a lot of the characteristics of abused and depressed individuals
including inhibition of aggression.
Treatment:
In several cases, a child who has a night terror only needs comfort and reassurance. Psychotherapy or counseling
can be appropriate in some cases. Benzodiazepine medications such as diazepam used at bedtime will often reduce
night terrors; but, medication is not usually recommended to treat this disorder.
Symptoms and Signs:
Sudden awakening from sleep, Persistent fear or terror that occurs at night, Screaming, Sweating, Confusion,
Rapid heart rate, Unable to fully wake up, Difficult to comfort.
Causes:
The normal sleep cycle involves distinct stages, from light drowsiness to deep sleep. During rapid eye movement
(REM) sleep, the eyes move quickly and vivid dreaming is very common. Each night there are many cycles of non-REM
and REM sleep.
Night terror (sleep terrors) happens during stage 3 and stage 4 sleep (deep sleep). The cause is still unknown
but night terrors are often triggered by fever, lack of sleep, or periods of emotional tension, stress, or
conflict.
The information on this site is for research purposes only and can not substitute for the advice of a medical professional. Ailments.com is not run by doctors and does not engage in the practice of medicine. Our site is not a medical authority, it is just a research tool for you to use in preparation for consulting with a doctor. We can not guarantee our information is accurate or up to date. Even if a statement made about a medical condition is accurate, it may not apply to you or your symptoms, so you should always consult a doctor. Nothing on our site should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine.
