Patient's question:
My child, who was sleeping at night, suddenly stood up on the bed by himself and moved 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. Sleepwalking 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 home to wander the streets. They often have no memory of these episodes upon waking.
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 fall back asleep.
The cause of sleepwalking is not yet fully understood, and it is mostly considered a functional change. In a few 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 likely related to the immaturity of their central nervous system. The frequency of episodes varies, occurring every few days or even several times in a single 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 deeper sleep.