Children who experience migrane headaches are more likely than the rest of the population to have sleep disorders, which are related to how they breathe while asleep. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, where breathing is discontinued for 15 seconds or more while the child is asleep, is a recognised sleep disorder. Often this can be simply resolved by removal of large tonsils and/or adenoids. Other children experience this problem because they are overweight, or for other physical reasons.
Children with sleep related breathing disorders may wake suddenly in the night, when the brain announces a lack of oxgyen, and demands a breath be taken. This can result in a sudden, and to the child, inexplicable and terrifying waking, and may be accompanied by an associated gasp as the required breath is taken.
A study by Dr. S. Kothare looked at children who reported having regular headaches. The study found that children with migrane were twice as likely to also have obstructive sleep apnoea. This same study found that children with tension headache also grind their teeth at night.
Migraine in children, is a big and separate subject. It is not always reported as headache, and can, depending on the age of the child, be reported as abdominal pain. The relationship between sleep disordered breathing and headache, migraine and tension headache should be brought to the attention of parents so that appropriate investigations, advice and treatment can be obtained. Migraine is associated with a shorter total sleep time, a longer total time to fall asleep and a shorter period of Rapid Eye Movement sleep.
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea occurs in 2% of children. It can develop at any age, but is most common in pre school children (3-6 years). At this stage of life the tonsils and adenoids are large compared to the throat. The rate of occurance is the same regardless of gender. It is more common where another family member has the same disorder, and it is common in obese children.
If your child regularly wakes suddenly, with a sharp cry in the night, you should consider your family's sleep patterns and possibly seek advice regarding Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.
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