Pavor nocturnus is the medical term for a sleep disorder. It is particularly evident in children and is also known as night terrors.
What is Pavor nocturnus?
The term Pavor nocturnus comes from Latin and translates to “night terrors.” The sleep disorder is also known as night terrors or night terrors. Pavor nocturnus belongs to the parasomnias (abnormalities during sleep) and occurs primarily in young children or schoolchildren. In some cases, however, adults also suffer from this sleep problem throughout their lives. It is not uncommon for night terrors to be associated with sleepwalking or talking in one’s sleep, but in principle they are considered harmless. Between one and six percent of all children suffer from Pavor nocturnus. In most cases, the sleep disorder runs in families. Night terrors are most common between the ages of 5 and 7. After puberty, Pavor nocturnus rarely occurs. The disorder occurs more frequently in boys than in females. However, no more than one percent of all affected children suffer from night terrors more than once a week. Only extremely rarely are babies affected by the sleep disorder.
Causes
For which reasons the Pavor nocturnus develops, could not be determined so far. Medicine classifies night terrors as a mental disorder. However, the sleep disorder is not a mental illness. Also a faulty education has nothing to do with the phenomenon. The affected children wake up from sleep when there is a disturbance in the alternation of deep sleep and dream sleep. In this case, there is, as it were, an overexcitation of the nervous system. Special maturation processes within the central nervous system are also considered possible triggers of night terrors. In most cases, the Pavor nocturnus in children goes away by itself in the course of time. In adults who experience night terrors, there are an unusually large number of deep sleep phases. Doctors consider this to be an indication of a familial predisposition. There are also some risk factors that have a favorable effect on the occurrence of Pavor nocturnus. Apart from family influences, these include psychological and physical stress such as lack of sleep, heavy loads, taking certain medications, special experiences, sleeping in an unfamiliar environment, or fever. If a child does not find sleep one night, it is possible that pronounced deep sleep will set in the next night, increasing the risk of suffering a night terror.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
A typical symptom of Pavor nocturnus is a loud cry that the child emits two to three hours after falling asleep. In addition, accompanying symptoms include rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat and cold sweat. Although the affected child makes an anxious impression, he or she cannot be spoken to or woken up. Sometimes the child’s eyes are also wide open or he even straightens up, but he still does not wake up. In extreme cases, the child jumps out of bed and runs away without paying attention to his surroundings, sometimes causing injury. Normal sleep usually resumes about 15 minutes after this event. The next morning, children have no memory of the night terrors. Although most parents are very concerned about the Pavor nocturnus, the sleep disorder is not considered dangerous to the child’s health. Since the memory of the event is usually absent, psychological disorders do not set in.
Diagnosis and course of the disease
If the Pavor nocturnus occurs only occasionally, there is no cause for concern. However, if night terrors appear more frequently than once a week between the ages of 6 and 7, it is recommended to consult a physician. When making a diagnosis, the physician must be careful to distinguish between Pavor nocturnus and other sleep disorders. These can be mainly nightmares, which have a similar effect as night terrors. An examination in a sleep laboratory is considered effective. In order to diagnose Pavor nocturnus, the doctor will ask how the child behaves during the night, at what time the night terrors occur, whether there are any memories of the event and how often it occurs. Also of interest are any previous illnesses, such as epilepsy. The physician obtains his information from the parents or external persons.In most cases, the course of Pavor nocturnus is positive because it disappears on its own over time. In some cases, medical treatment may also be required. In some people, night terrors persist into adulthood.
Complications
Pavor nocturnus can be associated with significant sleep disturbances. These occur thereby particularly with children and can lead to heavy psychological complaints or also to depressions. Furthermore, the child’s development can also be significantly disturbed and delayed as a result. Those affected suffer from palpitations and cold sweats during the night. Rapid breathing can also occur. In most cases, the children cry out in their sleep and suffer from confusion and anxiety. During the day, children are usually tired because they have not received enough sleep. As a result, there are problems with concentration. Likewise, in this disease, the child may injure himself during the night. The children themselves do not remember the crying out in their sleep. However, especially the relatives and the parents suffer from the psychological discomfort of the Pavor nocturnus. Direct and causal treatment of Pavor nocturnus is usually not possible. Avoiding stress can reduce the discomfort. The child may also need psychological treatment. It cannot be predicted whether this will result in a positive course of the disease.
When should one go to the doctor?
Anyone who is repeatedly startled from sleep and notices anxiety as well as physical symptoms such as cold sweat or a rapid pulse should consult the doctor. Parents who notice corresponding sleep disturbances in their child are best off talking to their pediatrician. Pavor nocturnus is basically harmless, but should be diagnosed so that the affected person can be relieved of the anxiety. For children, a visit to a sleep lab is recommended, where patients can learn the causes of night terrors and often reduce them as a result. If the sleep problems occur in conjunction with sleepwalking and other disorders, drug treatment is sometimes useful. The administration of mild tranquilizers and other preparations can reduce the Pavor nocturnus and any accompanying symptoms. This reduces the likelihood of panic attacks, accidents and other complications. Night terrors are diagnosed and treated by a neurologist or a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy. Affected individuals may first speak with their primary care physician, who can often make a tentative diagnosis based on the patient’s medical history, thereby providing the patient with guidance for further action.
Treatment and therapy
Therapy for Pavor nocturnus is rarely necessary in childhood. In most cases, psychotherapeutic measures are then taken to reduce stress, because the nocturnal seizures are favored by this. It is important that the child relaxes, keeps regular bedtimes and has a safe sleep environment. Night terrors are particularly stressful in adulthood. In this case, relaxation methods such as progressive muscle relaxation or autogenic training are useful. Behavioral therapy to calmly deal with the sleep disorder is also considered helpful. Medications are only sporadically prescribed for the treatment of Pavor nocturnus.
Outlook and prognosis
Sleep disorder most commonly occurs in young children or school-age children. Almost always, the prognosis in these patients is favorable. There is a temporary irregularity of sleep, which occurs primarily at an age of five to seven years and ends in spontaneous recovery. A few months or years the disturbances last and disappear in the course of the developmental process as suddenly as they appeared. It may happen that relapses occur again and again until adulthood. These are short-lived and are not normally a cause for concern. The prognosis worsens for sufferers who have long-term sleep disorders. In adults in particular, it can lead to significant impairment in coping with daily obligations. Once interruptions to sleep are of persistent duration and intensity, further health problems are likely. Consequential disorders due to the mental stress occur, so that intensive medical care is necessary to achieve relief from the symptoms.In most cases, psychological support is needed so that improvements can be documented. Many sufferers choose the path of drug support without sufficient medical consultation. This creates an increased risk of complications. In addition, an increase in further health irregularities is to be expected.
Prevention
Preventive measures against Pavor nocturnus are not known. Thus, the exact causes of the sleep disorder could not be found so far.
Aftercare
Due to the Pavor nocturnus, the affected persons suffer from various sleep disorders. These occur mainly in children and can lead to severe psychological complaints or even depression. Furthermore, the development of the child can be significantly disturbed and delayed. Those affected suffer from palpitations and cold sweats during the night. Rapid breathing may also occur. In most cases, children cry out in their sleep and suffer from confusion and anxiety. During the day, children are usually tired due to the Pavor nocturnus, as they have not received enough sleep. As a result, there are problems with concentration. Likewise, the child may injure himself during the night with this disease. However, it is mainly the relatives and the parents who suffer from the psychological discomfort of the Pavor nocturnus. Direct and causal treatment of Pavor nocturnus is usually not possible. Avoiding stress can reduce the discomfort. The child may also need psychological treatment. It cannot be predicted whether this will result in a positive course of the disease.
This is what you can do yourself
Affected persons who suffer from sleep disorders should control and optimize their sleep hygiene. The choice of mattress as well as sleeping utensils should be adapted to the needs of the body. The ambient temperature during night sleep should be neither too cold nor too warm. Adequate oxygen supply is important and ambient noise should be minimized. No more meals, sugary foods or caffeinated products should be consumed a few hours before the night’s rest. Fluid intake should also be slowly minimized as the day ends to eliminate awakenings due to toileting. Regularity in the sleep-wake rhythm is helpful, as well as sufficient sleep. The organism works in certain rhythms, which should be observed as much as possible for optimal regeneration of the body. If there is a lack of sleep, health impairments occur that go beyond sleep problems. A visit to a sleep lab can be helpful and provide new insights. Since children are the main sufferers of Pavor nocturnus, they should not be left unattended at night. Sleeping in a separate bed with quick access to the parental bedroom is recommended. If the child wakes during the night, soothing words are helpful. Stress, rushing or criticism should be refrained from. To continue night sleep as quickly as possible, caring and understanding help the child.
