Patient's question:
Frequent night terrors, almost every night after falling asleep for 1 hour, he experiences night terrors, crying and screaming, looking very scared. We try to comfort him, but it doesn't help. It lasts for about 20 minutes, and then he falls back asleep on his own. Our son is generally quite timid, and my husband and I tend to be strict with him.Doctor's answer:
Approximately 3% of children experience night terrors. Males are more affected than females. It can occur at any time during sleep. However, most cases occur between the ages of 5-7. It is rare after puberty. Night terrors typically occur within the first half-hour after falling asleep and usually do not last longer than 2 hours. The clinical manifestations of night terrors are as follows: During sleep, the child suddenly wakes up, stares, sits up, becomes agitated, and exhibits a terrified expression. However, their consciousness remains hazy, pale, with rapid breathing, dilated pupils, sweating, and an accelerated pulse—potentially up to 180 beats per minute. When an episode occurs, it is often difficult to wake the affected child without disturbing them. The child may still be afraid, crying, or screaming. They may tightly grab onto anyone, as if enduring intense pain, while ignoring and dismissing their parents' comfort, hugs, and anxiety.