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Restless Legs Syndrome in Children and Adolescents

About 2% meet diagnostic criteria for childhood RLS.

Some studies have suggested that restless legs syndrome (RLS) affects 5% to 10% of adults, and a genetic predisposition to RLS has been documented in several populations (see http://content.nejm.org/cgi/reprint/NEJMoa072743.pdf). However, the prevalence in children and adolescents is uncertain. In 1993, the NIH established diagnostic criteria for childhood RLS. Investigators used these criteria to examine the prevalence of RLS in the pediatric population using survey data from 11,582 households recruited randomly from a volunteer market-research panel in the U.K. and the U.S.

The prevalence of definite RLS was 1.9% in children (age, 8–11) and 2.0% in adolescents (age, 12–17). Moderate-to-severe RLS (symptoms twice per week and at least moderate distress) was reported in 0.5% of children and 1.0% of adolescents. Prevalence did not vary by sex. Children and adolescents with RLS were more likely to report growing pains and difficulty falling asleep than those who did not meet RLS diagnostic criteria. Overall, 71% of children and 80% of adolescents with RLS had a family history of RLS.

Comment: As new diseases are defined in adults, two questions arise: What is the prevalence in children, and do the diseases actually begin during childhood? This study certainly helps answer the first question, but a longitudinal cohort study would be needed to answer the second. Whether medication is beneficial for treatment of RLS in children awaits a sufficiently powered, high-quality, randomized clinical trial.

— Howard Bauchner, MD

Published in Journal Watch Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine August 6, 2007

Citation(s):

Picchietti D et al. Restless legs syndrome: Prevalence and impact in children and adolescents — The Peds REST study. Pediatrics 2007 Aug; 120:253-66.

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