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Home › Articles › Sleep Issues › Uncontrollable ZZZZZs

Uncontrollable ZZZZZs

Narcolepsy in Children

Part Two

By Carma Haley

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Onset and Diagnosis
A child with narcolepsy does not act sleepy -- they may in fact have the some of the same signs and symptoms of hyperactivity while others often present as suffering from depression, again, leading to often misdiagnosed children. "The symptoms that narcoleptic children present with most commonly are hyperactivity, attention span problems, social isolation, withdrawal, school learning problems and behavior problems," says Sheldon. "Many of them -- especially those who have cataplexy -- are diagnosed as being depressed because they are not real happy kids. The reason is because if they laugh and are happy, they fall. They don't want to laugh. They inhibit their joy of childhood because they don't want that feeling of losing tone, control and then falling."

Sheldon states that the factor to determine whether or not a person is a carrier of the narcolepsy gene has not yet been determined but if a parent has the disorder or knows of a family history, they need to observe their child for any signs and symptoms and if present, get them evaluated by both a pediatrician and an accredited sleep disorders clinic at once. "Either a family history or the presence of symptoms are indications for further evaluation," says Sheldon. "A pediatrician can examine for the presence of narcolepsy and should then refer the child and the parents to an accredited sleep disorder center that will make the diagnosis. The pediatrician can then follow the patient through their progress. But the diagnosis really needs to be made at the sleep disorder center."

Treatment
There are several steps involved in the treatment of narcoleptic children. Depending upon how severe the symptoms are and how well the child reacts to the various steps will indicate how and when the next step is taken. "The first thing to do is comprehensive sleep hygiene," says Sheldon. "We make sure their sleep cycles and habits are as good as they can possibly be. The second is prophylactic naps. A brief nap that lasts 10 to 15 minutes can result in up to two hours of refractory alertness in a narcoleptic. They feel good and are alert and can pay attention and do well for about two hours and then they deteriorate again."


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