My 8-year-old child sleepwalks at night, walks, laughs, cries, and talks to himself. Should I wake him up when he is sleepwalking? How dangerous is this condition? (Thu Hang, Ho Chi Minh City)
Reply:
Sleepwalking is a type of sleep disorder, neuropsychiatric, in which the patient performs actions such as walking, talking, screaming while sleeping. Sleepwalking usually occurs after the patient falls asleep 1-2 hours.
Sleepwalkers often do not remember what they did while they were sleepwalking. They may talk, walk, eat, drive, or perform other actions while they are still asleep. When they sleepwalk, they often open their eyes and appear to be awake, but are actually still asleep.
When suspecting sleepwalking, parents need to stay calm and avoid expressing personal emotions that may upset or panic the sleepwalker. Do not try to wake the sleepwalker because this may cause confusion, disorientation, or agitation.
A doctor examines a patient showing signs of sleepwalking. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital
It is necessary to ensure the safety of the sleepwalker when moving because the action can be dangerous. Many cases open windows, climb onto balconies or use knives to cut food without realizing what they are doing. People around need to clean up sharp, dangerous objects around, close the door tightly, and gently lead the sleepwalker back to bed.
Sleepwalking is not usually dangerous to the sufferer. However, sleepwalking can cause health problems, increasing the risk of injury such as falling down stairs or out of the house, colliding with vehicles on the road. Sleepwalking disrupts sleep, causing fatigue and loss of concentration the next day. The sufferer feels sleepy, lethargic, and exhausted. Worrying about sleepwalking and other consequences can cause stress and negative feelings.
If your child's sleepwalking occurs frequently and lasts for a long time, you should take your child to a neurologist for timely examination and treatment.
MD.CKI Nguyen Phuong Trang
Center for Neuroscience, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City
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