Common Sleep Disorders in Children

Childhood sleep disorders can disrupt family dynamics and cause cognitive and behavior problems. Early recognition and management can prevent these complications. Behavior subtypes of childhood insomnias affect 10% to 30% of children and result from inconsistent parental limit-setting and improper sleep-onset association. Behavior insomnias are treated using extinction techniques and parent education. Hypnotic medications are not recommended. Obstructive sleep apnea affects 1% to 5% of children. Polysomnography is required to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea; history and physical examination alone are not adequate. Adenotonsillectomy is the first-line treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure is the second-line treatment for children who do not respond to surgery or if adenotonsillectomy is contraindicated. Restless legs syndrome can be difficult to recognize and has an association with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Management of restless legs syndrome includes treatment of iron deficiency, if identified, and removal of triggering factors. Parasomnias affect up to 50% of children and usually resolve spontaneously by adolescence. Management of parasomnias involves parental education, reassurance, safety precautions, and treating comorbid conditions. Delayed sleep phase syndrome is found during adolescence, manifesting as a night owl preference. Treatment of delayed sleep phase syndrome includes sleep hygiene, nighttime melatonin, and morning bright light exposure. Sleep deprivation is of increasing concern, affecting 68% of people in high school.

[Epidemiologic study of a geriatric population in an isolated community: La Graciosa (Canary islands)]

This epidemiological study gives special attention to the population with the age group of 65 and over. The focus is on 33 persons (15%) of the total population of the "Isla La Graciosa", Canary Islands (Spain), who where interviewed by Psychiatrist. The sociodemographic characteristics, every day life style, the consumption of drugs and alcohol, their mental and physical health and cognitive state of these persons was made according to standardized tests. The results showed that 48% have a somatic illness, in this 48%, 37.5% are suffering from rheumatic illness, 6% suffer from hypertension, 36% are smokers and 39% consume alcohol with 21% of them possible alcoholics. In 21% depressive symptoms were detected and in 55% cognitive disorders. These results have been compared with the population of other islands in which the same age groups have similar characteristics. According to these comparisons the study group from la "Isla La Graciosa" seems to have a higher state of physical health but they have a greater tendency towards cognitive disorders.