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Night terror

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Pavor nocturnus; Sleep terror disorder

Symptoms:

• Sudden awakening from sleep
• Persistent fear or terror that occurs at night
• Screaming
• Sweating
• Confusion
• Rapid heart rate
• No recall of "bad dreams" or nightmares
  • Unable to explain what happened
  • May have a sense of frightening images
  • No memory of the event when they awaken the next day
• Unable to fully wake up
• Difficult to comfort

Note: Episodes are most common in the first third of the night. They may last 10 - 20 minutes, then normal sleep returns.

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.

• Review Date: 6/4/2007
• Reviewed By: Allen J. Blaivas, D.O., Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Veteran Affairs, VA System, East Orange, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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