Symptoms:

Night terrors are most common during the first third of the night, often between midnight and 2 a.m.

• Children often scream and are very frightened and confused. They thrash around violently and are often not aware of their surroundings.
• You may be unable to talk to, comfort, or fully wake up a child who is having a night terror.
• The child may be sweating, breathing very fast (hyperventilating), have a fast heart rate, and widened (dilated) pupils.
• The spell may last 10 - 20 minutes, then the child goes back to sleep.

Most children are unable to explain what happened the next morning. They often have no memory of the event when they wake up the next day.

Children with night terrors may also sleep walk.

In contrast, nightmares are more common in the early morning. They may occur after someone watches frightening movies or TV shows, or has an emotional experience. A person may remember the details of a dream when he or she wakes up, and will not be disoriented after the episode.

Signs and tests:

In many cases, no further examination or testing is needed. If the night terror is severe or prolonged, the child may need a psychological evaluation.