Narcolepsy is a lifelong disorder in which a person experiences abnormal sleep patterns where they fall asleep suddenly and most often at unusual times. The causes of Narcolepsy are not yet fully known nor well understood. Although people are not born with Narcolepsy, generally, symptoms become apparent before early adulthood with children as young as three years old having been diagnosed.
What are the signs of Narcolepsy in children?
A child with narcolepsy may suddenly fall asleep or lose control of muscle function while eating, playing, or simply walking down the street. Narcolepsy is a condition of excessive sleepiness that may considerably impact all aspects of a child’s life including social and academic functioning.
Children with narcolepsy may experience the following:
- Constant excessive daytime sleepiness
- Ongoing struggles to stay awake
- Falling asleep at unusual times and locations that may be unexpectedly sudden in the form of sleep attacks
How should you help control your child’s Narcolepsy?
According to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, here are some suggestions for dealing withyour child's condition:
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- Make sure your child has a consistent sleep regimen, he should go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.
- Short, scheduled naps may help. Check with your pediatrician.
- Exercise or any physical activity may help stimulate your child. Avoid repetitive, sedentary activities.
- Talk to your pediatrician about medications that may help control narcolepsy, and follow the prescription carefully.
- Keep an eye on your child while he's engaged in any activity that could be dangerous, like riding a bike, swimming or cooking. Avoid these activities at times when the child is usually tired.
If you are concerned that your child may have excessive daytime sleepiness and other associated problems suggestive of narcolepsy, you can start by speaking with your pediatrician about your concerns. Further testing can be arranged to determine whether narcolepsy may underlie your concerns, which might prevent a delay in diagnosis and help your child during this critical period of development.
Find out more about narcolepsy here, on BlackDoctor.org.
