6-7 year old children crying in the middle of the night

Children aged six or seven often cry in the middle of the night, which is one of the most obvious symptoms of childhood night terrors. Children's night terrors are related to many factors, such as heredity, developmental abnormalities, psychological factors, organic changes, etc., which are the main causes of children's night terrors. In order to ensure the child's physical health, parents must take their children for treatment after the child shows symptoms of night terrors.

1. Causes

The causes of the disease are mostly related to genetic, developmental, organic, psychological and endocrine factors. Most childhood patients have a family history, and most adult patients have a history of emotional or personality abnormalities and substance abuse. In addition, a poor sleeping environment, heavy bedding, chest pressure, overeating, and nasal congestion can also lead to night terrors.

2. Clinical manifestations

Night terrors are sudden attacks of extreme fear and panic at night, manifested by sudden sitting up, screaming, shouting or crying, and may also include symptoms of autonomic nervous system excitement such as tachycardia, rapid breathing, sweating, flushing of the skin, as well as abnormal behaviors such as getting out of bed and rushing to the door. An attack usually lasts 1 to 10 minutes and is difficult to awaken. If forcibly awakened, there will be a loss of consciousness and orientation, and the person will be unable to tell the content of the dream and usually cannot recall the attack.

Treatment

1. General treatment

Generally, no special treatment is required, especially sleep terrors that occur in childhood usually heal themselves after adolescence. It is necessary to explain relevant health knowledge to patients and their families to reduce psychological stress. Eliminate various stressful factors before going to bed and keep your emotions stable and happy. Parents should not be afraid or panic when night terrors occur, and there is no need to wake up the child. Instead, they can comfort the child and let him fall asleep again.

2. Medication

For those who have frequent sleep terrors or have obvious anxiety, depression and other emotions during the day, anti-anxiety drugs can be used in a short period of time and in small amounts. The more commonly used ones are alprazolam and lorazepam. You can also use antidepressants with good anti-anxiety effects such as escitalopram and paroxetine.

3. Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment

Traditional Chinese medicine also has its unique advantages in the treatment of night terrors. The more commonly used prescriptions include: Guipi Decoction, Wendan Decoction, Xiexin Decoction, Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction, Jiaotai Pills, Tianwang Buxin Dan, etc. Chinese patent medicines include: Zhusha Anshen Pills, Danggui Longhui Pills, Baizi Yangxin Pills, Anshen Bunao Liquid, Renshen Guipi Pills, etc. The patients can be diagnosed and treated according to their symptoms. Acupuncture and massage also have a good effect on night terrors.