Sleep disorders in children

Purpose of review: Childhood sleep disorders are one of the most prevalent complaints in the pediatrician's office. Infant sleep rhythm complaints from new mothers reach 46%, while childhood obstructive sleep apnea has a prevalence of 2% and adolescent insomnia with daily consequences surpasses that percentage. Recent findings: Each sleep disorder must be considered in context of age, as age influences the presentation and impact on the developing child or adolescent. For example, sleep-disordered breathing resulting in adult sleepiness can contribute to death in infants. The symptoms of narcolepsy are often masked until after adolescence, resulting in psychologically costly misdiagnoses. Summary: There are no outcome studies that track the long-term consequences of pediatric sleep disorders or their contribution to adult sleep problems, but this is an area of increasing research interest. This review assesses the most recent literature on pediatric sleep disorders from May 1, 2002, until April 30, 2003.