Las pesadillas en pacientes pediátricos y adolescentes. Revisión del tema a propósito de 2 casos clínicos / Nightmares in pediatric and adolescent patients. Review of the topic regarding 2 clinical cases

Los sueños en niños y adultos son frecuentes, pero con contenido perturbador y un aumento en la frecuencia, deben ser una alarma para el médico y la familia. Las pesadillas son un tipo de parasomnia, principalmente asociada con el sueño REM. Las pesadillas son más frecuentes en el insomnio y también pueden causar insomnio debido al miedo al sueño. Están relacionados con altos niveles de ansiedad, miedo a conciliar el sueño o déficits cognitivos secundarios a la privación del sueño y, por lo tanto, pueden aumentar la vulnerabilidad al desarrollo de otros trastornos mentales. Las pesadillas tienen relevancia clínica porque deterioran la salud física y mental y están relacionadas con una mayor tasa de suicidio. La consulta debe guiarnos como una bandera roja para evaluar el estado de salud; la cantidad y calidad del sueño; y factores como comorbilidades asociadas, consumo de drogas o síntomas de abstinencia, o vulnerabilidades. Esta revisión se basó en dos casos clínicos, un niño que se presentó en la pandemia y un adolescente que presentó inicio abrupto de pesadillas.

Dreams in children and adults are frequent, but with disturbing content and an increase in frequency, they should be an alarm for the doctor and the family. Nightmares are a type of parasomnia, mostly associated with REM sleep. Nightmares are more frequent in insomnia and can also themselves cause insomnia due to fear of sleep. They are related to high levels of anxiety, fear of falling asleep or cognitive deficits secondary to sleep deprivation and, therefore, may increase vulnerability to the development of other mental disorders. Nightmares have clinical relevance because they deteriorate physical and mental health and are related to a higher suicide rate. The consultation should guide us as a red flag to evaluate the state of health; the quantity and quality of sleep; and factors such as associated comorbidities, drug use or withdrawal symptoms, or vulnerabilities. In this review based on two clinical cases, a child who presented in the pandemic and an adolescent who presented abrupt onset and nightmares.

A case of confusional arousal in an elderly man / 中华神经科杂志

Confusional arousal (CA) is a rare non-rapid eye movement sleep-related parasomnia and rarely reported in China, leading to misdiagnosis and mistreatment in clinic. A detailed collection of clinical symptoms and simultaneous video polysomnography is very important for diagnosis and differential diagnosis of CA. A elderly patient with CA was diagnosed according to the International classification of sleep disorders, third edition diagnostic criteria. The summary and analysis of the patient is conducted to improve the understanding of CA, meanwhile to avoid misdiagnosis and mistreatment.

"Catatrenia": un trastorno del sueño poco conocido: descripción de tres casos clínicos pediátricos / Catathrenia: unknown sleep disorder: report 3 cases in pediatric patients

Catatrenia (gemido nocturno) es una condición rara caracterizada por sonidos irregulares que ocurren durante el sueño. Los comportamientos ocurren intermitentemente durante cualquiera de las dos etapas de sueño, REM o NREM y se caracterizan por gemidos prolongados, a menudo muy fuertes, socialmente perturbadores, durante la expiración. Es poco conocido y espera más definición y estudios terapéuticos. Hay pocos reportes y en su mayoría de pacientes adultos. Se presentan 3 casos en pacientes pediátricos.

Catathrenia (nocturnal groaning) is a rare condition characterized by irregular sounds that occur during sleep. The behaviors occur intermittently during either REM or NREM sleep and are characterized by prolonged, often very loud, socially disruptive groaning sounds during expiration. It is poorly understood and awaits further definition and therapeutic studies. There are few reports mostly adult patients are presented below 3 cases in pediatric patients.

Advances in sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy / 浙江大学学报·医学版

Sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (SHE), formerly known as nocturnal frontal epilepsy, is characterized by asymmetrical tonic or complex hypermotor seizures during sleep, with transient, frequent and clustering attack. The accurate incidence is not known but somehow low, which is estimated about 1.8/100 000. The differential diagnosis between SHE and parasomnias may be challenging due to possible similarities between the two sleep-related manifestations. In a majority of patients, the etiology is unknown. Identified etiologies are heterogeneous and structural abnormalities,which are involved in the severity and prognosis of SHE. In terms of treatment, it mainly includes pharmacological therapy and surgery. Carbamazepine seems to be the drug of choice in SHE patients, and epilepsy surgery provides excellent results in selected drug-resistant SHE cases. This review will focus on diagnosis, pathogenesis, treatment and prognosis of SHE, aiming to promote its early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Recurrent sleep paralysis - fear of sleeping / Paralisia do sono recorrente - medo de dormir

ABSTRACT Objective: To report a case of recurrent isolated sleep paralysis (RISP), a benign parasomnia with worrisome and frightening sleep paralysis episodes. Case description: We describe a case of RISP in a sixteen-year-old girl who seeks medical attention for anxiety symptoms. The sleep paralysis and associated auditory and tactile hallucinations began three years before with worsening in the last year, causing fear of sleeping. The episodes were intensely frightening causing negative impact in patient's sleep, school performance and social function. Medical conditions were excluded, and she started treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor with complete resolution of symptoms. Comments: Sleep complaints are often devalued. Therefore, clinicians should actively ask their patients about their sleep during health assessment.

RESUMO Objetivo: Relatar um caso de paralisia do sono isolada e recorrente (PSIR), uma parassonia benigna com episódios inquietantes e assustadores de paralisia do sono. Descrição do caso: Descreve-se um caso de PSIR de uma adolescente de dezesseis anos que buscou cuidados médicos devido a sintomas de ansiedade. A paralisia do sono e as alucinações auditivas e táteis associadas haviam começado três anos antes, com agravamento no último ano, causando medo de dormir. Os episódios eram extremamente perturbadores, gerando um impacto negativo no sono, desempenho escolar e vida social da paciente. Condições médicas foram excluídas e começou um tratamento com um inibidor seletivo da recaptação de serotonina, com resolução completa dos sintomas. Comentários: Queixas relacionadas ao sono são frequentemente subvalorizadas. Portanto, os médicos devem perguntar aos seus pacientes sobre problemas relacionados com o sono durante a avaliação clínica.

Alteraciones del sueño y bruxismo / Sleep alterations and bruxism

El sueño es un requerimiento biológico para la vida, sus alteraciones o su ausencia pueden disminuir la calidad de vida, el estado anímico y funcional, afectando seriamente la salud. Un sueño placentero y reparador implica cursar por facetas de profundidad diversa y actividad neuronal compleja. En este artículo se intentan explicar las generalidades del proceso del sueño y algunos de sus trastornos que lo relacionan con aumento de la actividad de los músculos masticatorios (bruxismo). Son presentados aspectos clínicos y neuronales que inducen a un incremento de microdespertares como alteración del sueño, estimulando bruxismo nocturno y bruxismo asociado a apnea nocturna. Son discutidas las posibles relaciones bidireccionales entre bruxismo diurno y nocturno secundarias a modifi caciones en la cantidad y calidad del proceso del sueño. De la misma manera, son sugeridas algunas consideraciones semiológicas y nosológicas para el mejor manejo y control del bruxismo asociado a las alteraciones del sueño, bajo el diagnóstico, atención y supervisión de equipos de atención multi- e interdisciplinarios (AU)

Sleep is a biological requirement for life, its alterations or privation thereof may reduce a person's quality of life, his or her state of mind and physical functions, which signifi cantly aff ects their health. Pleasant and repairing sleep implies going through variable deepness sleep stages, and a complex neuronal activity. This article intends to explain the generalities of the sleep process and certain disorders, particularly those in connection with the activity of the mastication muscles (bruxism). Clinical and neuronal aspects are presented inducing an increase in micro-awakenings such as sleep alterations stimulating nocturnal and bruxism associated with sleep apnea. Bidirectional connections between diurnal and nocturnal bruxism are argued as secondary to changes in the amount and quality of the sleep process. In the same manner, certain considerations associated to semiology and nosology of the diverse bruxism manifestations are considered for the better handling and control of the bruxism associated with sleep alterations under the diagnosis attention and supervision of multi- and interdisciplinary teams (AU)

Characteristic symptoms of exploding head syndrome:one case report and literature review / 中华神经科杂志

Exploding head syndrome(EHS)is a rare sensory parasomnia and rarely reported in China, leading to serious misdiagnosis, mistreatment, and unnecessary testing. A detailed collection of clinical symptoms and longterm polysomnography-electroencephalography monitoring is very important for diagnosis and differential diagnosis of EHS. We diagnosed a patient with EHS according to the International classification of sleep disorders, third edition diagnostic criteria. The electro-clinical feature of the patient and relevant references were analyzed in order to improve the understanding of EHS, meanwhile to prevent unnecessary testing and avoid misdiagnosis and mistreatment.

A Case of Re-Emergent Sleepwalking in Adulthood, Primed by Sleep Deprivation and Triggered by Sleep Apnea

Non-rapid eye movement sleep parasomnias including sleepwalking tend to disappear spontaneously during late childhood and adolescent period. Sleepwalking is not as common in adults as in children. Sleepwalking in adults could happen with triggering factors such as hypnotics or metabolic derangement including hypoglycemia. We report a case of an adult patient with recurrent, frequent sleepwalking and complex motor behaviors during sleep in his mid- twenties after spontaneous remission of sleepwalking in the childhood. The triggers were severe sleep deprivation and obstructive sleep apnea. No more sleepwalking was reported after the treatment of sleep apnea by tonsillectomy.

Diagnostic Confusion of Nocturnal Paroxysmal Motor Activity

It is a significant challenge for the clinician to make distinction between nocturnal epilepsy form non-epileptic sleep disorders. Although in some patients, diagnosis is easy to achieve but sometimes not. At times even with help of polysomnogram and electroencephalogram, diagnostic confusion remains. We present two cases of nocturnal paroaxysmal events, which still need elucidate diagnosis.

Sleep disturbance in children with allergic disease

PURPOSE: Although allergic disease has been recognized as a common chronic disease related to the sleep disturbance of children, studies on sleep disturbance in children with allergic disease are scanty in Korea. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sleep disturbance of children with allergic disease. METHODS: Children aged 2 to 12 years were assessed using the sleep questionnaires. From July 2011 to June 2012, surveys were conducted on patients who were diagnosed with allergies in 3 general hospitals and in an elementary school in Seoul and the capital area. The analysis was done in 3 groups according to age. RESULTS: The sleep questionnaires of 1,174 children were evaluated. Children with allergic disease were 341 (209 males and 132 females) and those in the control group were 833 (428 males and 405 females). Parasomnia symptoms were common in young children (ages 2 to 5 years) than in the control group (P<0.05). Symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing were more common in early adolescent children (ages 11 to 12 years) than in the control group (P<0.05). The presence of allergic rhinitis, gender, and body mass index did not correlate with a sleep disturbance in children with allergic disease. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this study was the first report of sleep disturbance in children with allergic disease in Korea. This study suggests that children with allergic disease from early children may have poor sleep quality than those without. Therefore, proper treatment of and great interest in sleep disturbance are required for children with allergic disease.

Sleep Forensics: a critical review of the literature and brief comments on the Brazilian legal situation / Medicina do sono Forense: uma revisao critica da literatura e breves comentarios sobre a situacao brasileira

Sleep medicine is a relatively new field among Medical Sciences. Its legal aspects are still obscure, either for lack of knowledge of the biological mechanisms underlying violent behaviour during sleep or the virtual absence of clear legal and uniformly accepted guidelines as to whether to punish or treat those disorders. An updated review of the pertinent literature was performed to determine the most prevalent pathological conditions involving violence and sleep and to identify their most common precipitating factors, attempting to provide some technical support to aid Brazilian medical-experts or assistants in preparing substantial and scientific-based reports in a legal environment.

A medicina do sono é um campo relativamente novo dentro das Ciências Médicas. Seus aspectos legais encontram-se ainda na obscuridade, seja por falta de conhecimento dos mecanismos biológicos do desenvolvimento dos transtornos de comportamento e da violência praticada em estados alterados de sono, seja por virtual ausência de previsão legal do binômio tratamento/punição. Realizamos revisão atualizada da literatura para determinar as condições patológicas mais prevalentes envolvendo violência e sono, identificar seus fatores precipitantes mais comuns e os critérios médico-legais que podem auxiliar eventuais médicos-peritos ou assistentes na elaboração de pareceres abalizados em âmbito legal.

Signs, symptoms, parafunctions and associated factors of parent-reported sleep bruxism in children: a case-control study

Bruxism is the non-functional clenching or grinding of the teeth that may occur during sleep or less commonly in daytime. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between clinical signs and symptoms, parafunctions and associated factors of sleep bruxism in children. A population-based case-control study was carried out involving 120 children, 8 years of age, with sleep bruxism and 240 children without sleep bruxism. The sample was randomly selected from public and private schools in the city of Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Groups were matched by gender and social class. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) drawn up by the city of Belo Horizonte was employed for social classification. Data collection instruments included clinical forms and pre-tested questionnaires. The diagnosis of sleep bruxism was supported by the American Association of Sleep Medicine (AASM) criteria. The McNemar test, binary and multivariate logistic regression models were used for statistical analysis. The risk factors associated with sleep bruxism included: primary canine wear (OR=2.3 IC 95% 1.2-4.3), biting of objects like pencils or pens (OR=2.0 IC 95% 1.2-3.3) and wake-time bruxism (tooth clenching) (OR=2.3 IC 95% 1.2-4.3). Children that present the parafunctions of object biting and wake-time bruxism were more susceptible to sleep bruxism.

Bruxismo é o ato não funcional de ranger os dentes enquanto se dorme ou apertar os dentes em vigília. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a associação entre sinais e sintomas clínicos associados ao bruxismo noturno em crianças. Foi desenvolvido um estudo de base populacional com desenho caso-controle, envolvendo 120 crianças, de 8 anos de idade, com bruxismo e 240 crianças sem bruxismo. A amostra foi selecionada de forma randomizada em escolas públicas e particulares da cidade de Belo Horizonte, Brasil. Os grupos caso e controle foram pareados por gênero e classe social. O Índice de Vulnerabilidade Social (IVS) desenvolvido pela prefeitura da cidade de Belo Horizonte foi utilizado para a classificação social. Como instrumentos de coleta foram utilizados: uma ficha clínica e um questionário pré-testados. O diagnóstico de bruxismo noturno foi baseado nos critérios da American Association of Sleep Medicine (AASM). Os testes estatísticos de McNemar, regressão logística binária e multivariada com modelo de regressão foram utilizados para análise dos dados. Foram considerados fatores de risco para o bruxismo noturno: desgaste em caninos decíduos (OR=2,3 IC 95% 1,2-4,3), morder objetos como lápis e canetas (OR=2,0 IC 95% 1,2-3,3) e apertar os dentes em vigília (OR=2,3 IC 95% 1,2-4,3). Crianças que apresentam outras parafunções tais como: morder objetos e apertar os dentes em vigília são mais susceptíveis ao bruxismo noturno.

Sedative Hypnotics Induced Parasomnias / 수면정신생리

Parasomnias induced by hypnosedatives are rare but serious side effect. Such parasomnias have not been reported with all hypnosedatives. However, frequent use of hypnosedatives, particularly nonbenzodiazepine receptor agonists is associated with parasomnias. Associated symptoms are sleep eating, sleepwalking with object manipulation, sleep conversations, sleep driving, sleep sex and sleep shopping etc. Mechanisms include high affinity for GABAA receptor, interruption of the consolidation phase of memory formation by drug, pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic drug-drug interaction and concomitant administration with alcohol. Managements for parasomnias induced by hypnosedatives involve stopping medication, switch to other medications or nonpharmacological treatment, lowest effective dose of NBRAs (Non-Benzodiazepine Receptor Agonists), taking into consideration drug-drug interactions, identification and treatment of underlying disease states.

Sleep-Related Eating Disorder / 수면정신생리

Sleep-related eating disorder (SRED) is a newly recognized parasomnia that describes a clinical condition of compulsive eating under an altered level of consciousness during sleep. Recently, it is increasingly recognized in clinical practice. The exact etiology of SRED is unclear, but it is assumed that SRED might share features of both sleepwalking and eating disorder. There have been also accumulating reports of SRED related to the administration of various psychotropic drugs, such as zolpidem, triazolam, olanzapine, and combinations of psychotropics. Especially, zolpidem in patients with underlying sleep disorders that cause frequent arousals, may cause or augment sleep related eating behavior. A thorough sleep history is essential to recognition and diagnosis of SRED. The timing, frequency, and description of food ingested during eating episodes should be elicited, and a history of concurrent psychiatric, medical, sleep disorders must also be sought and evaluated. Interestingly, dopaminergic agents as monotherapy were effective in some trials. Success with combinations of dopaminergic and opioid drugs, with the addition of sedatives, has also been reported in some case reports.

Overview of sleep & sleep disorders.

Sleep is defined on the basis of behavioural and physiological criteria dividing it into two states: non rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep which is subdivided into three stages (N1, N2, N3); and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep characterized by rapid eye movements, muscle atonia and desynchronized EEG. Circadian rhythm of sleep-wakefulness is controlled by the master clock located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus. The neuroanatomical substrates of the NREM sleep are located principally in the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus and those of REM sleep are located in pons. A variety of significant physiological changes occur in all body systems and organs during sleep as a result of functional alterations in the autonomic and somatic nervous systems. The international classification of sleep disorders (ICSD, ed 2) lists eight categories of sleep disorders along with appendix A and appendix B. The four major sleep complaints include excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia, abnormal movements or behaviour during sleep and inability to sleep at the desired time. The most important step in assessing a patient with a sleep complaint is obtaining a detailed history including family and previous histories, medical, psychiatric, neurological, drug, alcohol and substance abuse disorders. Some important laboratory tests for investigating sleep disorders consist of an overnight polysomnography, multiple sleep latency and maintenance of wakefulness tests as well as actigraphy. General physicians should have a basic knowledge of the salient clinical features of common sleep disorders, such as insomnia, obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, narcolepsy-cataplexy syndrome, circadian rhythm sleep disorders (e.g., jet leg, shift work disorder, etc.) and parasomnias (e.g., partial arousal disorders, REM behaviour disorder, etc.) and these are briefly described in this chapter. The principle of treatment of sleep disorders is first to find cause of the sleep disturbance and vigorously treat the co-morbid conditions causing the sleep disturbance. If a satisfactory treatment is not available for the primary condition or does not resolve the problem, the treatment should be directed at the specific sleep disturbance. Most sleep disorders, once diagnosed, can be managed with limited consultations. The treatment of primary sleep disorders, however, is best handled by a sleep specialist. An overview of sleep and sleep disorders viz., Basic science; international classification and approach; and phenomenology of common sleep disorders are presented.

Parasomnia Overlap Disorder Associated With Pontine Glioblastoma

Parasomnia overlap disorder is characterized by coexisting rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder and non-REM parasomnia. We report herein an 8-year-old boy with REM sleep behavior disorder, sleep talking, and confusional arousal. Polysomnography revealed REM sleep without atonia, and arousal disorder. Neurological examination revealed bilateral ptosis, lateral gaze palsy, facial palsy, vertical nystagmus, and dysmetria. A pontine glioblastoma was found on brain magnetic resonance imaging, which could have been responsible for his neurologic deficit and sleep problem.

Prevalence of Sleepwalking in an Adult Population

Background: Sleepwalking consists of a series of behavioral activities that occur during sleep. These activities may be simple; complex or aggressive in nature. They include motor activities; confusion; and amnesia for the events. Sleepwalking is a disorder of arousal from non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. In children; episodes of sleepwalking are rarely violent; in adults; however; sleepwalking might include violence; which could endanger the patient or others and might precipitate legal issues. There is inadequate information on the prevalence and demographic correlates of sleepwalking in Nigeria. Objectives: One objective of this study was to determine the lifetime prevalence rate of sleepwalking in an adult population in Ile-Ife; in Southwestern Nigeria. Another objective was to determine the age and sex distribution of sleepwalking among those who have experienced it at least once in their lifetime. Materials and Methods: A random sample of 228 healthy individuals aged 18-60 years was obtained and the members were asked to fill out a survey form about lifetime prevalence rate of sleepwalking. Results: The overall lifetime prevalence rate of sleepwalking was 7(16 of 228 participants). It was 10.4in males and 3.5in females; but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.07). Conclusion: This study has shown that sleepwalking is common in the population. In view of the psychological effects of sleepwalking and the potential physical and legal problems associated with it; adequate efforts should be made for early detection and prompt management of the condition

Exploding Head Syndrome

Exploding head syndrome (EHS) is characterized by a sudden loud imagined noise or sense of a violent explosion in the head occurring as the patient is falling asleep or waking during the night. EHS is classified as "other parasomnia" on the ICSD-2 (International Classification of Sleep Disorders), and the neurophysiologic mechanisms underlying this hypnagogic phenomenon are unknown. EHS is a rare type of other parasomnia that has not been reported in Korea. We report two cases of EHS that presented with typical clinical symptoms.

Sleep apnea and REM sleep behavior disorder in patients with Chiari malformations / Apnéia do sono e distúrbio do comportamento da fase do sono com REM em pacientes com malformações de Chiari

BACKGROUND: Chiari malformations (CM) may result in the appearance of REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) that can be considered markers of brain stem dysfunction. PURPOSE: To evaluate the frequency of RBD and SAS in patients with CM type I and II. METHOD: Were evaluated 103 patients with CM by means of full night polysomnography. Were scoring different sleep stages, frequency of abnormal movements (through video monitoring) and abnormal respiratory events. RESULTS: Of the 103 patients, 36 showed CM type I and 67 CM type II. Episodes of RBD were observed in 23 patients. Abnormal apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was observed in 65 patients. CONCLUSION: The high rate of RBD suggests that this parassomnia and the increased frequency of central sleep apnea episodes, may be considered as a marker of progressive brain stem dysfunction.

INTRODUÇÃO: Malformações de Chiari (MC) podem gerar o aparecimento de distúrbio comportamental da fase do sono com REM (DCR) e síndrome da apnéia do sono (SAS), sugerindo a ocorrência de disfunção do tronco cerebral. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a freqüência de DCR e SAS em pacientes com MC I ou II. MÉTODO: Utilizou-se a polissonografia de noite inteira para a avaliação de 103 pacientes. Classificaram-se as diferentes fases do sono e analisou-se a freqüência de movimentos anormais (monitorada por vídeo) e de eventos respiratórios anormais. RESULTADOS: Dos 103 pacientes analisados, 36 eram portadores de MC I e 67 de MC II. Episódios de DCR foram observados em 23 pacientes. O índice de apnéia/hipopnéia foi considerado anormal em 65 pacientes. CONCLUSÃO: A alta freqüência de DCR e o aumento da freqüência de episódios de apnéia central do sono podem ser considerados manifestação de disfunção progressiva do tronco cerebral.

Prevalencia de los trastornos del sueño en niños escolares de Sabaneta, Colombia, 2005 / Prevalence of sleep disorders in school children from Sabaneta, Colombia 2005

El sueño es una de las funciones básicas en la vida del niño y condición esencial para el estado de alerta diurno, por tanto su alteración influye negativamente sobre su desarrollo yel bienestar de la familia. Los trastornos del sueño son muy comunes durante la niñez, la Academia Americana de Pediatría en 2001 informó una tasa global de 20% a 30%. Sin embargo,en Colombia han sido escasamente estudiados. Objetivo: establecer la prevalencia de trastornos del sueño en niños escolares del municipio de Sabaneta, los antecedentes familiaresy las características sociodemográficas asociadas. Métodos: se realizó un estudio de observación descriptivo, aleatorizado y de corte transversal donde se analizaron los resultadosobtenidos de 296 cuestionarios diligenciados por los padres de niños pertenecientes a colegios de las áreas urbana y rural del municipio. Dicho cuestionario contenía criteriosclínicos para la clasificación de los trastornos del sueño según el DSM-IV. Resultados: la prevalencia de los diferentes trastornos del sueño fue como sigue: ronquido 39,2%;somniloquia 35,1%; bruxismo 33,1%; apnea obstructiva del sueño 16,9; colecho 16,9%; insomnio 14,9%; pesadillas 12,8%; enuresis 9,5%; sonambulismo 7,4%; despertares nocturnos 7,4%; terrores nocturnos 6,1%; resistencia/miedo a dormir 4,1%. Los despertares nocturnos fueronsignificativamente más frecuentes en niños de estratos socioeconómicos altos (IC: 0,19-0,97); la enuresis lo fue en varones (IC: 0,14-0,96) y las pesadillas lo fueron en niños mayores de 9años (IC: 0,24-0,91). Conclusión: la prevalencia de trastornos del sueño en la población escolar del municipio de Sabaneta es alta y similar a la reportada en otros países. Estos resultados deben incentivar a los padres de familia y pediatras a estar alerta para poderhacer un diagnóstico precoz, que evite complicaciones a largo plazo de un trastorno de sueño no tratado.

Sleep is one of the basic needs in a child’s life and it is essential for day time alert state. Any sleep disturbancehas a negative impact on the child’s development, his/her own well-being and that of the family. Sleep disorders are common in childhood. The AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics showed in 2001 a prevalence of 20-30%. In Colombia these disorders have not been well investigated. Objective: to find out the prevalence of sleep disorders in schoolchildren of Sabaneta, Colombia,as well as their medical histories and sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: an observational, descriptive, randomized, cross sectional studywas carried out, based on the results of 296 questionnaires answered by parents. DSM-IV criteria for the classification of sleep disorders were included in the questionnaire. Results: prevalence of the various disorders was as follows: snoring 39.2%; sleeptalking disorder 35.1%; bruxism 33.1%; obstructive sleep apnea 16.9%; cosleeping 16.9%; insomnia 14.9%;nightmares 12.8%; enuresis 9.5%; sleep walking disorder 7.4%; night awakenings 7.4%; night terrors6.1%; fear to fall asleep 4.1%. Enuresis was significantly more frequent in males (CI: 0.14-0.96), night awakenings in children from higher socioeconomicstrata (CI: 0.19-0.97), and nightmares in those older than 9 years (CI: 0.24-0.91). Conclusion: sleep disorders are frequent in the studied group; theirprevalence is similar to that reported from other countries. These results should motivate parents andpediatricians in order to make early diagnosis and, therefore, to avoid long-term complications.