Pavor Nocturnus in children: causes and remedies of night terror
The Pavor Nocturnus or night terror, also called "sleep terror disorder", is a malaise counted among the parasomnia, ie the abnormal behaviors that occur during sleep. It occurs in pediatric age, mainly from 3 to 10 years with a slight prevalence in boys, and is more frequent than you think, as it affects about 3% of children (but some sources even speak of 10%).
Pavor Nocturnus' crises occur during sleep, suddenly and without any signal, usually in the first half of the night: the child gets out of bed and starts crying, screaming and struggling as if terrified of something.His eyes are wide open (more rarely closed) but he does not see who is in front of him, nor does he seem to react to any call. Indeed, if you try to calm him down in some way, the opposite effect is obtained. The episodes of Pavor Nocturnus in a child can last several minutes, after which he relaxes and goes back to sleep. The next morning, upon awakening, he remembers absolutely nothing.
The causes of Pavor Nocturnus: the incidence of the genetic component
What are the main causes of Pavor Nocturnus? First of all, we specify that this disorder has no pathological significance (translated: it is not a disease), nor any pathological cause of any kind, neurological, psychological, affective or relational. It has no particular consequences and decreases spontaneously and gradually over time, until it almost completely disappears with the arrival of adolescence (the cases of adults struggling with sleep terror disorder are very rare, just as there is no Pavor Nocturnus for a newborn, since the first crises occur at 2 or 3 years).
Although there is no clarity on the causes of night terror, the presence of a strong genetic component has been found: this means that children whose family members have suffered from Pavor or other parasomnias (for example sleepwalking), are at a much higher risk. high to develop the disorder. Other factors such as sleep apnea, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux and sleep deprivation, or apparently non-traumatic (if not completely harmless) situations or experiences may also contribute to the onset of malaise, but which for the child can become a source of such stress. to unleash the episode of Pavor Nocturnus: a noise or a light turned on suddenly, a full bladder, a strong fever and so on.
Pavor Nocturnus: the remedies and precautions to follow
When we talk about Pavor Nocturnus and remedies, it must be said immediately that if the disorder occurs occasionally, no specific type of intervention is necessary (referring to a doctor is recommended only if the ailments occur several times a week). It goes without saying that parents must avoid touching or picking up the child during the crisis, because they would only increase the terror: the little one, let's remember, in those moments is not fully conscious and therefore would not recognize mom and dad. However, you can try some tricks to try to reduce the onset of attacks or to stop them: take care of sleep hygiene, making sure that the times of falling asleep and waking up are regular as in the good old days of co-sleeping; reduce daily stress; do not try to wake the child during a night terror episode, instead try to speak softly to him to calm him down; do not tell him what happened because it could cause him anxiety disorders, increasing the likelihood of relapse; take safety measures at home, for example by blocking doors and stairs or removing objects that are dangerous for the child (if he gets out of bed during the crisis of terror). There are also homeopathic remedies for Pavor Nocturnus: Bach flowers, for example, act on an emotional level, promoting a softer and more relaxing sleep (in any case, always contact the homeopath first).
Pavor Nocturnus: the therapy for the most complex cases
The night terror should not alarm parents too much (we have repeatedly written that the disorder disappears spontaneously without leaving traces), but in case of frequent seizures it is better to consult a doctor who, if he deems it necessary, can indicate a therapy for the Pavor Nocturnus. One type of treatment, considered very effective, provides for example a protocol of nocturnal awakenings scheduled for one or more weeks: it is a behavioral strategy that consists in awakening the child before the time in which episodes usually occur and, later, prepare him to sleep again. There is also a drug treatment, used only in extreme cases (frequent or risky episodes for the child's safety), with benzodiazepines or antidepressants (but many side effects, some even serious, can occur). A valid alternative, more suitable for children since it has very few side effects and is not addictive, is instead L-5-hydroxytryptophan, which determines a stabilization of sleep by reducing the phenomena of night terrors.
Differences between Pavor Nocturnus and epilepsy, sleepwalking and nightmares
Pay attention to the differences between Pavor Nocturnus and epilepsy, sleepwalking or simple nightmares, which sometimes have similar effects (crying, screaming, intense agitation, paleness, sweating, tachycardia, accelerated breathing), but which at a medical-diagnostic level travel on very different tracks. Same thing for the dreaded SIDS, another serious nocturnal concern of mothers, but definitely not comparable to night terror both for reasons of age (SIDS affects babies of a few months, Pavor children from 2 to 10 years) and for the consequences ( SIDS is deadly, Pavor is harmless after all).
Infantile nocturnal epilepsy, for example, is a rather rare neurological disease (unlike Pavor Nocturnus which is not even a pathology) caused by the mutation of a gene. As for the similarities between night terror and sleepwalking, it is true that the manifestations of both disorders may overlap, but the first is differentiated by the activation of the autonomic nervous system which manifests palpitations, sweating, tremor, redness and the expression of terror, all symptoms not present in sleepwalkers. between Pavor Nocturnus and nocturnal nightmares: the latter are dictated above all by anxieties, worries, stress and daily experiences in their own way traumatic (such as watching a scary movie) that mark the emotional experience of the child and negatively affect the content of dreams, giving place to the nightmare (which unlike Pavor occurs in the last hours of sleep and is remembered upon awakening).
Pavor Nocturnus: mothers confront each other on the Alfemminile forum
If you want to deepen the Pavor Nocturnus issue in children with further questions (and answers) on night terror, visit the Alfemminile forum to get in touch with many mothers who want to share their opinions and experiences with you. In the forum there are already very interesting discussions on the subject (but you can open new ones): mothers who ask for urgent opinions on Pavor Nocturnus, mothers alarmed by the nocturnal awakenings of their children and mothers looking for valuable advice on terror disorder in sleep, who are confronted with those who have already lived this experience. Browsing through the various threads you will cover a world made to measure for you, with many mothers always ready to listen to you and support you at any moment of the day.
