Understand The Symptoms Of Restless Leg Syndrome In Children To Deal With It Effectively!

Restless leg syndrome in children will be in the same way as adults and the symptoms will be itching, burning, tingling and creepy feeling.

There will be continuous urge in moving their legs when the child is resting.

With discomfort and urge to move legs, child will take long time to fall asleep.

They will get relief when they get up and walk or run around, or when they rub the legs they feel better.

In children, restless leg syndrome cannot be identified and therefore you have to pay attention to everything your child describes. Parents can interpret their child’s pains as growing pains.

Restless leg syndrome in children occurs due to genetic factors, deficiency in iron, and some existing medical conditions. Some children with chronic diseases such as kidney disease and diabetes are at an increased risk for developing this syndrome.

Symptoms of restless leg syndrome:

To relieve from discomfort, children feel urge to move the legs by tossing and turning while lying in the bed. Children stay awake long time during bedtime.

Due to the difficulty in falling asleep, they face the problem of daytime sleepiness. Behavior, academic problems, irritability and hyperactivity results in children due to daytime sleepiness.

Diagnosis: Diagnosis is made on the description of symptoms by you and your child. Physical examination will be conducted to eliminate other causes. Doctor recommends overnight sleep study to evaluate other sleep disorders in your child.

Treatment for restless leg syndrome in children:

Don’t allow your child to get into bed unless your child gets sleep because the longer the child lies in the bed, the discomfort worsens. Therefore, read bedtime stories until your child’s bed time.

Do not allow your child to drink caffeine and other cola drinks as they can worsen the symptoms. Caffeine is found in tea, coffee and chocolates.

Massage or use heating pads to provide temporary relief in your child.

Low levels of iron can also contribute to restless leg syndrome. Iron supplements should be sued according to doctor’s prescription.

Drug treatment for children:

Whenever possible, drug treatment should be avoided for kids with restless leg syndrome. Doctors suggest lifestyle changes such as exercise, proper sleep routine and dietary changes.[Natural Restless Leg Syndrome Treatment]

If these changes do not show better results, doctors can prescribe appropriate dosages of levodopa and clonidine.

If your child is left with untreated restless leg syndrome, it can result in other problems like anxiety, depression and other sleep disorders like insomnia. Immediately after diagnosing the disease, treatment should be given.