Patient's question:
My son is eight and a half months old. In the past two days, he has been waking up frequently around 11 p.m. He won't open his eyes and just cries. He only falls asleep when he's picked up and patted. What could be the reason for this? Is it what the elders often say, night terrors? What are night terrors?Doctor's answer:
Hello: The child should be fine! Actually, infant crying can be divided into two major categories: "physiological" and "pathological.""Physiological" crying is common in the following situations:
Hunger, thirst This is the most common reason for infant crying, often seen in infants under 3 months old. It may be due to insufficient breast milk, overly diluted formula, or not being full from the previous meal. High environmental temperature, excessive sweating, and thirst can cause persistent crying.
Cold, heat, dampness, itching, pain Extreme cold or heat can cause discomfort in infants, but heat is more likely to lead to crying and restlessness. Wet diapers (due to urination or defecation) that are not changed promptly can cause crying as a way to signal parents. Itching caused by conditions like eczema, excessive sweating, or poor skin hygiene, or intense itching due to pinworms around the anus, can also lead to crying.
Urinary or defecation sensation Trained infants may cry to seek their mother's help for timely urination or defecation.
Irregular routines Infants under 6 months old often "reverse day and night," sleeping during the day and crying at night. These infants are commonly referred to as "night wailers."
"Pathological" crying is caused by diseases and is common in the following situations:
Oral ulcers Often cause crying during feeding or eating.
Abdominal pain Examples include intussusception (characterized by intermittent severe crying, pale complexion, vomiting, and), acute appendicitis (persistent crying, fever, and increased crying once the appendix ruptures), and incarcerated inguinal hernia (severe abdominal pain, with the child often rubbing the affected area).