Patient's question:
My child was sleeping at night when suddenly he stood up on the bed, moving his hands back and forth. When I hit him, he didn't notice. It was like he was dancing. What should I do?Doctor's answer:
HelloIt could be sleepwalking.
Sleepwalking occurs frequently in children. It is when a child gets up and moves around after falling asleep for a period of time, performing mechanical actions such as getting dressed, opening drawers, or even leaving the house to wander the streets. Upon waking, they often have no memory of these actions.
From a medical perspective, sleepwalking is a relatively common sleep disorder. Statistics show that its incidence rate is approximately 1%-6% of the general population, with more males affected than females and more children than adults. It often has a family history. Sleepwalking typically occurs during the first 2-3 hours of sleep, with the duration usually lasting 5-30 minutes. After an episode, the person may wake up fully, or they may continue to sleep.
The cause of sleepwalking is not yet fully understood, and it is mostly considered a functional change. In some cases, it can be caused by organic conditions, such as epilepsy combined with sleepwalking. Most cases resolve on their own within a few years, suggesting that children's sleepwalking is often related to the immaturity of their central nervous system. The frequency of episodes varies, occurring every few days, every few tens of days, or even multiple times in one night. For infrequent cases, treatment is not necessary; for frequent cases, medical consultation is recommended, and medication can be prescribed under a doctor's guidance. Generally, children with a sleepwalking habit may see improvement in their symptoms after entering a deeper state of sleep.