Question

5 y/o with screaming/crying for no reason about 1 hour after falling asleep. Sits up in bed with eyes open, trembling, sweating, mother cannot gain his attention for 5 minutes. No new stressors. Boy has no memory of the event. PE normal. Dx?

Answer 1

The 5-year-old child is likely experiencing night terrors, characterized by a sense of panic and attempts to escape during sleep. The child may have no memory of the event.

Step-by-step explanation:

This 5-year-old child is likely experiencing night terrors, which is a sleep disorder characterized by a sense of panic, screaming, and attempts to escape from the immediate environment during sleep (Mahowald & Schenck, 2000). Night terrors commonly occur during the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) phase of sleep and individuals typically have no memory of the event (Provini, Tinuper, Bisulli, & Lagaresi, 2011).