Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder
in which sleeping and waking states are combined. The child partially
wakes from deep sleep and carries out some type of activity. Often this is
walking, but other detailed activities may be performed. A child has no
memory of the event afterward.
What is going on in the body?
Sleepwalking is one type of fairly common, related
sleep disorders in children. This group includes:
night terrors
primary nocturnal enuresis,
which means bedwetting that is not related to a physical problem
sleeptalking
Sleepwalking is often combined with sleeptalking.
Episodes occur at a certain point in the sleep cycle. This is usually
70 to 120 minutes after sleep begins.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
Fifteen percent of healthy children between the ages of 5 and
15 years sleepwalk. Sleepwalking is more common in boys than in girls.
It is more likely to occur if a child has had night terrors as a preschooler.
A child is also at higher risk if others in the family have had
sleep disorders.
Being overly tired or stressed
may also affect the child's sleep pattern.
Symptoms & Signs
What are the signs and symptoms of the condition?
Typically, the sleeping child suddenly sits up. His or her
movements are clumsy. There may be repetitive movements of the
fingers and hands. The child's eyes may be open, but with a blank
stare. Sometimes the child gets out of bed and walks around without purpose.
More often, he or she simply lies down again after a period of restless
motion. The child may perform clumsy, but purposeful activities such as
trying to open a door or trying to get dressed.
The child usually cannot be awakened during one of these
episodes. When spoken to, he or she may answer with
mumbling and slurred speech. An episode can last 5 to 20 minutes.
Afterward, the child lies down and goes back to sleep.
Diagnosis & Tests
How is the condition diagnosed?
Diagnosis of sleepwalking begins with a medical history
and physical exam. A polysomnogram,
which is a sleep study test, is usually not needed. The doctor may sometimes
order other tests to rule out underlying disorders.
Prevention & Expectations
What can be done to prevent the condition?
No one knows how to prevent sleepwalking completely. However,
the following measures may help sleepwalking to occur less often.
avoiding illegal drugs and
alcohol
avoiding sleeping pills, tranquilizers,
pain medicines,
and cold remedies
having regular bedtimes and waking up times
using stress
management techniques
What are the long-term effects of the condition?
Sleepwalking in childhood is a common variation on the
sleep pattern. Most children who are affected by it do not have
episodes often. It is not linked to mental disorders in children and usually
disappears by the time children reach their teen years. Parents
should be aware, however, that children can accidentally injure
themselves while sleepwalking.
What are the risks to others?
Sleepwalking poses no risk to others.
Treatment & Monitoring
What are the treatments for the condition?
Another person can help the sleepwalker by taking the
following steps.
Gently lead the child back to bed.
Protect the child from accidents or injury.
Install protective gates at stairs and other hazards.
Install door locks so that they are out of the child's reach.
Help the child to avoid becoming overtired or stressed.
The following method has been shown to reduce or
stop sleepwalking. It is thought to interrupt the abnormal sleep pattern.
For a few nights, log the number of minutes that pass from the time
the child falls asleep to the time sleepwalking starts.
On the next few nights, wake the child up 15 minutes before
the time that the sleepwalking episode would start. This timing is based on the
log from the first few nights.
Keep the child awake for 5 minutes.
Follow this plan for 7 nights in a row.
If sleepwalking begins again, repeat this plan for the next 7 days.
What are the side effects of the treatments?
The measures described to change sleep patterns have
no known side effects.
What happens after treatment for the condition?
After treatment, the child and parents should continue to
follow preventive measures to the sleepwalking from coming back.
How is the condition monitored?
Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to
the doctor.
Homepage 
Health
Topics 
Sleep Disorders 
