Nightmares are frightening events for the entire family and occur sporadically in many children.
Nightmare disorder is characterized by repeated episodes of a frightening or unpleasant dream that disrupts the child's sleep. The child's reaction often interrupts the parents' sleep. On awakening from a nightmare, a child is alert and aware of the present surroundings, but the sleep disturbance causes distress and impairment in everyday functioning. Nightmares often are confused with the parasomnia known as night terrors, which are episodes of extreme panic and confusion associated with vocalization, movement, and autonomic discharge. Children with night terrors are difficult to arouse and console and do not remember a dream or nightmare.