Restless Legs Syndrome: Creeping Out of the Closet

RLS was associated with bed-wetting, sleep difficulty, and hyperactivity/inattention.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensory-motor disorder with four essential characteristics: (1) having an irresistible urge to move the legs (i.e., a “creepy-crawly” tingling sensation), (2) begins or worsens during periods of rest, (3) is relieved by movement, and (4) occurs or worsens at night. Although the incidence of RLS in the pediatric population is unknown, retrospective reports by adults with RLS suggest that symptoms frequently appear in childhood.

In this study, 3304 adolescents (age range, 15–18 years; 49% male) at nine high schools in Turkey completed an RLS sleep questionnaire followed by a face-to-face or telephone interview to confirm the diagnosis of RLS. RLS had been present for at least 1 year in 3.6% of participants; 2.…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics