Sleep disorders in children and adolescents with neurological diseases

Abstract

Abstract
The disorders of the circadian cycle sleep-wake are primary and secondary. The primary or intrinsic are less frequent (31%) than the secondary or extrinsic but early diagnosed and treated (69%). The primary intrinsic alterations are due to anatomical and/or functional process circadian rhythm sleep-wake cycle. Its treatment is well defined in case it exists. The secondary sleep alterations are extrinsic and their diagnosis is more clinical than polysomnographic and its treatment directed to the associated condition as well as the manifestation abnormal sleep. Although the secondary are more common than the primary (69% vs. 31%) they are diagnosed and treated less than the primaries. When not properly diagnosed and treated induce significant problems with emotional, behavioral and cognitive changes in children and adolescents compared with those without sleep disorders. The purpose of this review is that the general pediatricians, pediatric neurologists and pediatric psychiatric bear in mind the high incidence of side effects of sleep disorders in children with neurological diseases and to ask parents and patients about the quality of sleep of their children and adolescents and make a diagnosis and early treatment to avoid fatal consequences in some cases.