Patient's question:
A child wakes up crying at night for no known reason, without other symptoms. What medicine should be used for treatment?Doctor's answer:
Hello: The central nervous system development of newborns is not yet mature, and the conditioned reflex of day/night sleep has not been established. If they sleep too long during the day, they may resist falling asleep at night and cry incessantly without being coaxed or carried by adults. Additionally, adults, tired after a long day, may be less sensitive to their child's hunger or the need for urination and defecation, leading to delayed responses that can cause the child to cry. Children with rickets, due to calcium deficiency in their bodies, are prone to being easily startled and may cry or wake up at the slightest movement during the night. Children suffering from chronic conditions such as tuberculosis or malnutrition also often cry at night.When a child cries at night, the first step is to analyze the cause and consciously train them to change their day/night reversal pattern. Try to concentrate drinking, changing diapers, taking fish oil and calcium tablets, and other activities during the day. Avoid overfeeding during the day and opt for smaller, more frequent meals to allow the child to wake up due to hunger. Meanwhile, gently tapping or scratching their soles or amusing them to make them laugh and take deep breaths can disrupt their sleep. This can encourage the child to sleep less during the day and gradually establish a routine of being awake during the day and asleep at night.
If the child suffers from conditions such as rickets, tuberculosis, or malnutrition, it is important to seek timely treatment. Once these illnesses are cured, the nighttime crying should naturally subside.