What is narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy is a relatively uncommon sleep disorder in children.
However, left undiagnosed this disorder can be very disabling and have a large
impact on a child’s life. Children with narcolepsy experience constant
sleepiness, have ongoing struggles to stay awake, fall asleep at unusual times
(or suddenly) and in awkward or inappropriate places.
What causes narcolepsy?
The exact cause of this disorder is still not known. Narcolepsy
is thought to be related to a disruption in an area of the brain that controls
sleep and wakefulness. In some cases, it is thought to be due to a loss of a
particular chemical in the brain called hypocretin. Narcolepsy affects an equal
number of boys and girls; first symptoms are usually not reported until
individuals are between the ages of 15 and 25 but have been seen in younger
children. Sometimes narcolepsy is seen in more than one family member.
What are the signs and symptoms of narcolepsy?
Signs of narcolepsy can develop over several years or can appear
together all at once. The four most common signs of narcolepsy are:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness: This is usually the first sign of
narcolepsy. Individuals say they feel tired all the time. They can fall
asleep at unusual times, such as while driving, in the middle of a
conversation, or while eating.
- Cataplexy: Cataplexy is a sudden, brief loss of muscle control
triggered by stress or a strong emotion, such as laughter, anger, anxiety,
or surprise. Cataplexy may be mild – like a brief feeling of weakness in the
knees – to a complete collapse. Breathing is not affected but a sense of
choking may be reported. Injury from falls is rare because the paralysis
comes on over a few seconds. Cataplexy is sometimes the first symptom of
narcolepsy but more often develops after years of having narcolepsy.
Sometimes it may be mistaken for a seizure.
- Sleep paralysis: Sleep paralysis is a brief loss of muscle control
either when falling asleep or waking up. It is a feeling of being unable to
move or speak, even though totally aware of your surroundings. Being touched
by another person usually causes the paralysis to disappear.
- Hypnagogic hallucinations: These are vivid, dream-like/nightmare
events that are difficult to distinguish from reality. They occur just
prior to falling asleep or just after awakening. The "dreams" often
involve images or sounds of strange animals or prowlers. The content is
generally scary.