Question
My daughter is 1.5 years old, and she often wakes up at night, screams, and appears highly alert. Sometimes, even a slight noise will wake her up. What could be the cause of this? What should I do?
Answer
Night terrors are a sleep disorder that approximately 3% of children may experience, usually occurring between the ages of 5 to 7 and becoming less common after adolescence. Children may suddenly wake up within half an hour of falling asleep, showing signs of fear, crying, or shouting, and sometimes even experiencing somnambulism. These symptoms may be caused by factors such as anxiety, being startled, such as major family events, leaving parents for the first time, trauma, or watching horror stories. Night terrors usually resolve on their own, but if you are concerned that it may be a symptom of another disease, it is recommended to consult a doctor.