J Korean Child Neurol Soc.  2010 May;18(1):66-73.

Sleep Problems in Children and Adolescents with Epilepsy and Chronic Headaches

• Shin HK
• Eun BL
• Nam SO
• Chae KY
• Eun SH

Abstract

PURPOSE
Sleep is correlated with various neurological disorders. Epilepsy and chronic headaches(CH) are the most common causes of visiting children in neurology clinics. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the sleeping patterns of patients with epilepsy and CH.
METHODS
Children and adolescents of between the ages 6-18 suffering from epilepsy or CH were assessed using the sleep questionnaires. Patients with motor disabilities, chromosomal abnormalities or neuromuscular diseases were excluded.
RESULTS
Sleeping patterns of the 276 patients were analyzed(200 epilepsy and 76 CH). The mean age of the patients was 11.8+/-3.3 years. CH patients had more excessive daytime sleepiness, shorter total sleep time on weekday, later bedtime, and more trouble getting up in the morning than epilepsy patients(P<0.001). CH patients also had more mood instabilities, resistance to going to bed on time, and uncomfortable feelings in legs than epilepsy patients(P<0.05). On the contrary, epilepsy patients had more bed-wettings than CH patients(P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
It is suggested that CH is more associated with sleep problems than epilepsy. The consideration and proper treatment for accompanying sleep problems are needed when we treat chronic headaches or epilepsy.

Keyword

Sleep; Epilepsy; Headache; Child

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Child
Chromosome Aberrations
Epilepsy
Headache
Headache Disorders
Humans
Leg
Nervous System Diseases
Neurology
Neuromuscular Diseases
Surveys and Questionnaires
Stress, Psychological