Narcolepsy in pediatric age – Experience of a tertiary pediatric hospital

Publication date: March 2014 Source:Sleep Science, Volume 7, Issue 1 Author(s): Filipa Dias Costa , Maria Inês Barreto , Vanda Clemente , Mónica Vasconcelos , Maria Helena Estêvão , Núria Madureira Narcolepsy, a chronic disorder of the sleep–wake cycle of multifactorial etiology, is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, often associated with cataplexy, hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations and sleep paralysis. Both early clinical suspicion and therapeutic approach are essential for promotion of cognitive development and social integration of these children. The authors present a descriptive retrospective study of a series of eight children in whom symptoms first started between 6.8 and 10.5 years of age. Diagnostic delay ranged from 4 months to 2 years. One child had H1N1 flu vaccination eight months before the clinical onset. The first multiple sleep latency test was positive in 6 of 8 cases. All cases were treated with methylphenidate, and venlafaxine was associated in 4 of them. In one case the initial therapy was exclusively behavioral. In all cases, symptomatic improvement, better school performance and social integration were achieved after therapeutic adjustment.
Source: Sleep Science - Category: Sleep Medicine Source Type: research