Department of Pediatrics, Emma Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Eur J Pediatr. 2024 Nov 23;184(1):39. doi: 10.1007/s00431-024-05822-x.
Sleep is essential for the cognitive, emotional, and physical development of children. Common sleep problems occur in 20-30% of children and are often resolved by improved sleep hygiene. Sleep disorders are more severe conditions, e.g., insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and circadian rhythm disturbances. If left untreated, these can have significant long-term consequences, including impaired cognitive function, increased risk of psychiatric conditions like anxiety and depression, and higher risk of obesity and cardiovascular diseases. To prevent these complications, timely recognition and management is essential. In this paper, we address the medical perspectives of common sleep disturbances in children, focusing on their diagnosis and treatment. Sleep hygiene education, behavioral interventions, and ambient adaptations are first-line interventions for managing all sleep disturbances in children. In cases where behavioral approaches are insufficient, other (non-)pharmacological options are discussed, with a focus on their efficacy and safety in children. Conclusions: Finally, potential long-term consequences and directions for future research are discussed that may improve sleep-related health and well-being.
睡眠对儿童的认知、情感和身体发育至关重要。20-30%的儿童存在常见的睡眠问题，通常通过改善睡眠卫生来解决。睡眠障碍是更严重的病症，例如失眠、阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停和昼夜节律紊乱。如果不加以治疗，这些病症可能会产生重大的长期后果，包括认知功能受损、焦虑和抑郁等精神疾病的风险增加，以及肥胖和心血管疾病的风险更高。为了预防这些并发症，及时识别和管理至关重要。本文从医学角度探讨了儿童常见的睡眠障碍，重点关注其诊断和治疗。对于所有儿童的睡眠障碍，睡眠卫生教育、行为干预和环境适应是一线干预措施。在行为方法不足的情况下，我们还讨论了其他（非）药物选择，并重点关注它们在儿童中的疗效和安全性。结论：最后，讨论了潜在的长期后果和未来研究方向，这可能会改善与睡眠相关的健康和幸福感。
