[A study of parasomnias in the prepubertal age]

Parasomnias have been little studied in prepubertal age children. When it happens often they can alter the continuity of the sleep and reduce the value restorer of this affecting the academic functioning and daytime behavioural in younger children. We study the total frequency of the parasomnias, the individual frequency of every parasomnia and the association between them in primary education children.

We distribute to children's parents (358) of third through sixth grade of Primary Education of one college of Alcoy the Owens Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire of for parents to answer.

Rate of response was 58 %. Total frequency of the parasomnias was 6.2 %. The most frequent parasomnia of the research was the periodic limb movements (PLM) (7.7 %) followed of bruxism (6.7%), nightmares (1.9%), enuresis (1.9%) and sleepwalking (1.4%). We did not find any case of night terror. There is a major frequency of enuresis, sleepwalking and nightmares in male children and of PLM in the girls though we have not obtained statistical significance. The PLM associated with nightmares (75%, p < 0.005), sleepwalking (66%, p < 0.05) and bruxism (40%, p < 0.005).

Parasomnias happen with a frequency raised in the children in prepubertal age. Following the repercussion that a parasomnia can suppose to the child as well as to his environment, it is important to detect it as soon as possible in order to prevent its consequences and not let them continua once the child gets older.