Presenting symptoms in pediatric restless legs syndrome patients

Abstract 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 him or her self is most important. Additional criteria are, among others, the results of polysomnography (PSG). Description of both aspects are the aim of the study Methods: Multinational survey of presenting symptoms and results of PSG in 31 children who after a detailed work-up proved to have RLS. Results: 52 Percent of the 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”, etc. 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 differed often from those mentioned in a previous study in the US. PSG revealed abnormalities in total sleep time (55%), sleep efficiency (55%), deep sleep duration (37%), awakenings (60%), wake after sleep onset (60%) and periodic limb movement index (81%). Conclusions: The description of RLS symptoms in children differs from that in adults. PSG is abnormal in many aspects.