![]() The school can help by scheduling naps, allowing extra time during tests, and providing materials such as study notes if the child misses class, for example. This is to keep the teacher from misinterpreting the child’s behavior as another health issue or as laziness or disinterest. It is important for parents to alert teachers about the child’s narcolepsy. scheduling all physical activities for the times when the child is most alert.doing relaxing activities in the hours before sleep to unwind.avoiding caffeine, heavy meals, and lots of liquids before bed.getting at least 20 minutes of exercise each day, to improve alertness and reduce weight gain.getting up and going to sleep at the same times every day.scheduling multiple naps during the day.Behavioral interventionsīecause narcolepsy can affect every aspect of daily life, a doctor may recommend some or all of these strategies to reduce daytime sleepiness and improve nighttime sleep: These may help with cataplexy, hallucinations, and sleep paralysis. However, side effects may include anxiety, irritability, and headaches.ĭepending on the child’s age, a doctor may also prescribe antidepressants, such as atomoxetine or clomipramine. Sodium oxybate, meanwhile, is FDA-approved to treat narcolepsy from the age of 7 onward, and it can help reduce cataplexy.Īnother drug, methylphenidate, can help improve sleep at night, reducing excessive daytime sleepiness. Stimulants, such as modafinil may help maintain wakefulness during the day by stimulating the central nervous system. Off-label use is when a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for one purpose or age group is instead used for a different purpose or age group. However, the doctor may prescribe an adult medication off-label and monitor the child closely for side effects. Many drugs that treat narcolepsy in adults are not approved for use in children. MedicationĪ doctor may prescribe different drugs, depending on the age of the child. Instead, medication and behavioral interventions can help manage it. Narcolepsy is a chronic condition, which means that there is no cure. Learn more about a cerebral spinal fluid analysis here. In this procedure, a doctor inserts a needle into the spinal canal to collect the sample. However, it requires a lumbar puncture, which can be very painful, to take a sample of spinal fluid. People with type 2 narcolepsy typically have normal levels of hypocretin. Hypocretin is a neuropeptide that regulates sleep and wakefulness, and people with type 1 narcolepsy often have low levels. It measures how quickly the child may fall asleep during the day and how quickly they enter REM sleep.Ī doctor may also recommend measuring levels of hypocretin in the spinal fluid. Multiple sleep latency test: This follows a PSG and takes place during the day.A PSG can also rule out other conditions that may affect sleep, such as sleep apnea. This is because narcolepsy often disturbs REM sleep. It helps doctors identify sleep patterns and measure how much rapid eye movement (REM) sleep the child gets. Overnight polysomnogram (PSG): This measures heart rate, oxygen levels, breathing, physical movement, and brain waves during sleep.Two further tests help diagnose narcolepsy: They also perform a physical examination and may order blood tests. The researchers report that problems with sleep caused by narcolepsy may lead to obesity, earlier onset of puberty, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, better known as ADHD.Ĭhildren with narcolepsy may also have higher rates of mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety.įirst, a healthcare professional, who may be a sleep specialist, takes a detailed medical history and asks about the child’s sleep history and their symptoms. And it may cause sleep paralysis, a feeling of being unable to move as the body transitions from sleep to wakefulness. The authors of the review also note that narcolepsy may cause hallucinations in children when they are falling asleep or waking up. Symptoms of narcolepsy in children and adolescents can appear differently, compared with how they appear in adults.Īccording to a 2018 review, children and adolescents with narcolepsy may exhibit: Another name is “narcolepsy without cataplexy.” Narcolepsy that causes excessive sleepiness, or sleep attacks, is type 2. Another name for it is “narcolepsy with cataplexy.” Around 70% of people with narcolepsy have this type. If narcolepsy occurs with sudden, temporary loss of muscle control or sudden muscle weakness, doctors call this type 1 narcolepsy.
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