Causes of the Night Terror Phenomenon in Children

The phenomenon of night terror, where a child screams hysterically during sleep or appears extremely frightened without a clear cause, often causes panic among parents. Recently, this phenomenon has been widely discussed in society and on social media.

Yeni Quinta Mondiani, a lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition at IPB University, clarified some misconceptions about the phenomenon.

“Sleep is a very important biological function because it plays a role in physical recovery and the development of a child’s nervous system,” Yeni said in a written statement on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

Normally, sleep consists of several phases: non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM). Deep sleep occurs during stages 3 and 4 of Non-REM sleep, when the body carries out restoration and recovery processes.

“Disorders such as night terror fall into the category of parasomnia, which is a partial arousal disorder from the Non-REM phase as classified by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine,” she explained. “Sleep terror or night terror usually occurs in the first third of the night, around 60–90 minutes after the child falls asleep.”

Symptoms may include a child suddenly screaming in panic, appearing extremely frightened, crying, feeling restless, having a rapid heartbeat, fast breathing, and sweating. During an episode, the child is usually difficult to wake and does not respond to calming attempts.

“After the episode ends, the child may appear confused for a moment and then return to sleep. The next morning, most children do not remember the incident,” Yeni explained.

In most cases, night terrors are not dangerous and do not require special treatment, especially if they occur rarely. One of the most common triggers is lack of sleep.

“A child who is overly tired is actually more at risk of experiencing this episode. Therefore, maintaining sufficient and quality sleep is the key,” she said.

She advised parents to remain calm during an episode.

“Do not wake the child forcefully. Make sure the environment is safe so the child does not get injured. If necessary, parents can record the incident for medical consultation,” she suggested.

She also emphasized the importance of distinguishing night terrors from seizures. Generally, night terrors last longer and the movements are not always the same, whereas seizures are usually short and have repetitive or stereotypical patterns.

To confirm a diagnosis, an electroencephalography (EEG) test can be performed to record brain wave activity.

“When should you see a doctor? If the episodes occur very frequently, the movements are always the same and very brief, or if they cause injury,” she explained.

Yeni emphasized that night terrors in most children are part of the natural maturation of the nervous system and usually improve over time.

“The most important thing is for parents to understand this condition rationally and maintain a healthy sleep routine for their children,” she concluded.