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Prevalence of Sleep Disorders Among Primary School Children

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Abstract

Objective

To screen symptoms of sleep disorders among primary school children.

Methods

Four schools from urban area and four rural schools were included in this study. Symptoms of sleep disorders were assessed using the validated Hindi version of Childhood Sleep Habit Questionnaire in 8–13 y old children. Comparison was made between urban and rural group and between boys and girls. Descriptive statistics was calculated.

Results

Mean age of the subjects included in this study was 8.9 ± 1.5 y. Boys and girls were equally distributed, however, rural sample was smaller. More than one awakening each night was found in 12.2 % children. In the whole group, prevalence of bed-wetting was 8.7 %, sleep-talking 20.9 %, sleep-walking 3.2 %, teeth grinding 15.4 % and night terrors 8.4 %. Daytime sleepiness was reported by 25.5 % and napping by 56.4 %. 17.3 % used to fall asleep in unusual circumstances and the teacher or the friend in 6.9 % students noticed it. Snoring was reported by 11.4 % children, and 6.3 % reportedly struggled to breathe during sleep. Domicile and gender did not affect prevalence of parasomnia, however, symptoms of sleep apnea were more frequent among rural children. Daytime sleepiness was more common among rural children as compared to urban.

Conclusions

Symptoms of sleep disorders are prevalent among primary school children. Common disorders are parasomnia, sleep apnea and daytime sleepiness.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a financial grant from Swami Rama Himalayan University. The authors are also thankful to Dr. Judith Owens for allowing them to use Hindi version of Childhood Sleep Habit Questionnaire.

Contributions

RG conceived the idea. RG, DG and SDK designed the study. NM was involved in data acquisition and analysis. MD and MM were involved in data analysis. Manuscript was prepared by RG and rest of the authors provided intellectual content. RG will act as guarantor for the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Sleep Clinic, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Ram Nagar, Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 248140, India

    Ravi Gupta, Nidhi Mittal & Mohan Dhyani

  2. Department of Community Medicine, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Ram Nagar, Jolly Grant, Dehradun, India

    Deepak Goel

  3. Department of Neurology, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Ram Nagar, Jolly Grant, Dehradun, India

    S. D. Kandpal & Manish Mittal

Authors
  1. Ravi Gupta
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  2. Deepak Goel
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  3. S. D. Kandpal
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  4. Nidhi Mittal
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  5. Mohan Dhyani
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  6. Manish Mittal
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ravi Gupta.

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Conflict of Interest

None.

Source of Funding

This study was funded by financial grant from Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun.

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Gupta, R., Goel, D., Kandpal, S.D. et al. Prevalence of Sleep Disorders Among Primary School Children. Indian J Pediatr 83, 1232–1236 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-016-2138-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-016-2138-7

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