Parasomnias in children

The majority of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep-related events occur in children and improve with treatment of the underlying medical sleep disorder or with increasing age. Other rare types of parasomnia, such as rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder (RBD), may be associated with serious complications or be an early warning sign of other neurological impairment. RBD may precede the symptoms of narcolepsy.[21]Nevsimalova S, Prihodova I, Kemlink D, et al. REM behavior disorder (RBD) can be one of the first symptoms of childhood narcolepsy. Sleep Med. 2007;8:784-786. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17569582?tool=bestpractice.com [22]Stores G. Rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder in children and adolescents. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2008;50:728-732. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-8749.2008.03071.x/full http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18834385?tool=bestpractice.com [23]Bonakis A, Howard RS, Ebrahim IO, et al. REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) and its associations in young patients. Sleep Med. 2009;10:641-645. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19109063?tool=bestpractice.com [24]Bonakis A, Howard RS, Williams A. Narcolepsy presenting as REM sleep behaviour disorder. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2008;110:518-520. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18343568?tool=bestpractice.com [25]Dauvilliers Y, Rompre S, Gagnon JF, et al. REM sleep characteristics in narcolepsy and REM sleep behavior disorder. Sleep. 2007;30:844-849. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1978363/?tool=pubmed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17682654?tool=bestpractice.com As a complication of nocturnal events, the patient or family members may be injured. Disorders with potential for violent behaviour, such as RBD, increase the likelihood of the patient suffering a significant unintentional injury.