Question
When a child suddenly stands up during sleep at night and performs hand flipping movements on the bed, resembling dancing, and does not respond to being tapped, how should parents handle this situation?
Answer
Somnambulism could be a possible cause. Somnambulism is a relatively common sleep disorder in children. It refers to children getting up and moving around after falling asleep for a period of time, which may include activities like dressing, opening drawers, or even walking out into the streets. Upon waking up, they usually have no recollection of these actions. From a medical perspective, somnambulism is a common sleep disorder with an incidence rate of approximately 1%-6% in the general population, more common in males than females, and more prevalent in children than adults. It often occurs within the first 2-3 hours of sleep, lasting typically for 5-30 minutes. After an episode, the child may become fully awake or may continue to fall asleep. The cause of somnambulism is not entirely clear at present, with most cases attributed to functional changes; in a few cases, it may be caused by organic changes, such as somnambulism associated with epilepsy. Although most cases of somnambulism may resolve spontaneously over a few years, it is speculated that children’s somnambulism may be related to the incomplete development of the central nervous system. For frequent episodes of somnambulism, parents should seek medical assistance and use medication under the guidance of a doctor. Generally, improving the child’s sleep quality can help alleviate the symptoms of somnambulism.