Sleep patterns, problems, and habits in a sample of Egyptian preschoolers.

Objective: Sleep problems are common among preschoolers. We conducted this study to investigate sleep problems in a sample of Egyptian preschoolers attending pediatric outpatient clinics and examine the relationship between their sleep problems, patterns, and hygiene. Methods: The parents of 319 preschoolers, aged 2-5 years, completed the BEARS(which represent the fve major sleep domains, i.e., bedtime problems, excessive daytime sleepiness, awakenings during the night, regularity and duration of sleep, and snoring) questionnaire in Arabic and a short survey on their educational status, significant medical problems and/or their child's medications , and sleeping habits. Results: The frequency of bedtime problems, excessive daytime sleepiness, awakenings during the night, regularity of sleep, and snoring were 58.9%, 17.9%, 31%, 60.5%, and 20.4%, respectively. More than a third of the samples had poor sleep hygiene practices, ranging from 41.7% to 70.5%. Multivariate analyses revealed that age and body mass index (BMI) are predictors of bedtime problems. Conclusions: Our fndings indicate that sleep problems and poor sleep hygiene are common among this sample of preschoolers. This study also suggests an association between age and BMI and sleep disturbances.

Cognitive Function and Heat Shock Protein 70 in Children With Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

We conducted the present study to examine cognitive function and serum heat shock protein 70 levels among children with temporal lobe epilepsy. The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test was carried out to examine cognitive function in 30 children with temporal lobe epilepsy and 30 controls. Serum heat shock protein 70 levels were determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The epilepsy group had significantly lower cognitive function testing scores and significantly higher serum heat shock protein 70 levels than the control group; there were significant negative correlations between serum heat shock protein 70 levels and short-term memory and composite scores. Children with uncontrolled seizures had significantly lower verbal reasoning scores and significantly higher serum heat shock protein 70 levels than children with controlled seizures. Children with temporal lobe epilepsy have cognitive dysfunction and elevated levels of serum heat shock protein 70, which may be considered a stress biomarker.

Urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin levels and sleep disorders in children with migraine.

We conducted the present study to assess melatonin secretion in a sample of children with migraine, to describe their sleep patterns and problems, and to examine the impact of sleep problems on migraine disability. The parents of 18 children with migraine completed the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire and Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment Score in Arabic. The parents of 18 healthy controls also completed the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire. Urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin levels were determined with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. There was no significant difference in urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin between the migraine and control groups (Z = -0.127, P = .889). There were no significant differences between groups in Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire subscales or total scores. There were significant correlations between bedtime resistance, parasomnias subscales, and migraine disability. Our findings indicate that nocturnal production of melatonin is not reduced in children with migraine, and sleep disturbances impact the degree of migraine disability.

Parent-reported sleep problems, symptom ratings, and serum ferritin levels in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: Sleep problems are common among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Serum ferritin levels have been associated with the severity of symptoms and sleep disturbances among children with ADHD. This study was conducted to investigate parent-reported sleep problems in a sample of Egyptian children with ADHD and to examine the relationship between their sleep, symptom-ratings, and low serum ferritin levels. METHODS: Parents of 41 ADHD children, aged 6 to 12 years, filled out the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Revised: Long Version (CPRS-R:L) in Arabic. Serum ferritin levels were determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The parents of the 62 controls filled out the CSHQ. RESULTS: The ADHD group showed significantly higher scores in CSHQ subscales and total score. Children with serum ferritin levels <30 ng/mL had more disturbed sleep. There were significant negative correlations between sleep duration subscale, total score of CSHQ, and serum ferritin levels. There were no significant differences in hyperactivity, cognitive problems/inattention, oppositional, or ADHD index subscale scores between children with serum ferritin levels <30 ng/mL and those with serum ferritin levels ≥ 30 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep problems are common, and this study suggests an association between low serum ferritin levels and sleep disturbances.

Association between PM10 exposure and sleep of Egyptian school children.

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the potential association between exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <10 µm (PM10) and sleep disturbances among Egyptian school children. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, parents of school children from four elementary schools in areas with different PM10 exposures filled out the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children questionnaire in Arabic. Air pollution data were obtained from the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 276 children, 121 (44 %) of them were boys with a mean age of 9.26 ± 1.96 years. Disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep (DIMS), disorders of excessive somnolence, and the total score were reported in the clinical range (T score > 70) in 19.9, 24.3, and 24.3 % of the sample, respectively. A generalized additive model with adjustment for potential confounding factors was used to examine the association between PM10 exposure and sleep disturbances. There were statistically significant associations between PM10 exposure and DIMS and sleep hyperhidrosis (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Air pollution exposure has a negative impact on children's sleep with significant association between exposure to PM10 and sleep disturbances.

Association between sleep and behavioural problems among children with enuresis.

AIM: This study was conducted to describe sleep problems in a sample of children with enuresis and to investigate the association between sleep and behavioural problems. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 100 children with enuresis were recruited from paediatric enuresis clinic. The children's sleep problems and behaviours were assessed by the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire and Child Behaviour checklist. RESULTS: The most frequently reported sleep problems were in daytime sleepiness, bedtime resistance and sleep anxiety subscales. Children with T-scores ≥ 60 in internalising, externalising and total behavioural problems had higher scores on daytime sleepiness subscale and total score than children with T-scores < 60. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that daytime sleepiness subscale was significantly related to behavioural disturbances. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep problems are common among this sample of children with enuresis, and the presence of sleep disturbance such as daytime sleepiness could explain the association between enuresis and disturbed daytime behaviour.

Sleep of children living in institutional care facilities.

PURPOSE: To describe sleep patterns and problems among institutionalized children. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the caregivers of 118 children, aged 4-12 years from six institutional care facilities completed the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). RESULTS: The mean (±SD) of night bedtime was 21:05 ± 2:52, mean morning wake-up time was 06:58 ± 0:31, mean total sleep duration was 10 ± 1.1 h, and mean night-sleep duration was 9.5 ± 0.9 h. The percentage of children who took a daytime nap was 34.7% (n = 41) and the mean duration of nap was 0.5 ± 0.7 h. The most frequently reported sleep problems were bedtime resistance, daytime sleepiness and night awakening. Children with bedtime at or after 9 PM, night-sleep duration less than 10 h and daytime napping had more disturbed sleep. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep problems are common among this sample of institutionalized children.