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Presenting symptoms in pediatric restless legs syndrome patients
Al de Weerd1, Irene Aricò, Rosalia Silvestri
1Sleep Center SEIN Zwolle-Groningen, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
Insights
Pediatric restless legs syndrome (RLS) diagnosis relies on children
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
- Clinical Diagnosis
Background:
- Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) diagnosis in children relies heavily on subjective symptom reporting.
- Polysomnography (PSG) is an additional diagnostic criterion for pediatric RLS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the presenting symptoms of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in a European pediatric cohort.
- To compare pediatric RLS symptom descriptions with those in adults and previous US-based studies.
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted in two European pediatric sleep centers.
- Presenting symptoms were collected from children diagnosed with RLS after a detailed work-up.
Main Results:
- 52% of children reported symptoms aligning with standard RLS diagnostic criteria.
- Vivid descriptions like "ants in legs" were common; daytime sleepiness and urge to move were prevalent.
- Pediatric RLS symptom descriptions differed from adults but were consistent with US findings. 81% showed abnormal periodic limb movements on PSG.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric RLS symptom descriptions vary from adult presentations.
- This European study's findings align with previous US research on pediatric RLS.
Objective:
The diagnosis restless legs syndrome (RLS) in children depends on the history told by the child and his parents. The description of symptoms given by the child himor herself is most important. Additional criteria are, among others, the results of polysomnography (PSG). Description of the presenting symptoms is the aim of the study.
Methods:
Survey in two European pediatric sleep centers of presenting symptoms in children who after a detailed work-up proved to have RLS.
Results:
Fifty-two percent of the 31 children presented with symptoms similar to those mentioned in the "four questions" relevant for the diagnosis of RLS. In the other patients the description included often very colourful wordings, such as "ants or spiders in the legs, legs want to kick, need to stretch." All children were tired or sleepy during daytime and nearly all reported an urge to move. Insomnia was mentioned by 61% of the patients. The presenting symptoms did not differ significantly from those mentioned in a previous study in the US, but did so when compared to adults with RLS. PSG revealed an abnormal periodic limb movement index in 81% of the children.
Conclusions:
The description of presenting symptoms in children with the final diagnosis of RLS differs from that in adults. The results of this European study corroborate those from the US.
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