Restless leg syndrome is a neurological problem first described in 1672 in adults, but only recently has the awareness of this condition in children and youth improved.
It may indeed be inherited. It is thought to be an autosomal dominant condition; the genes have been identified in French Canadian families on chromosome 12; on chromosome 14 for Italian families and chromosome 9 for American families. About 38 per cent of adults with restless leg syndrome say their symptoms started before age 20. According to the Sleep Disorder Program at the Mayo Clinic, the condition occurs in close to six per cent of patients under the age of 18 years. This figure was also confirmed in Canadian children, 11 to 13 years old, but overall the French-Canadian population has the highest rates, estimated at 15 to 20 per cent.
A review paper on the syndrome -- the first of its kind -- was published in August 2007 in the journal Pediatrics. The paper states restless leg syndrome is more common than epilepsy or diabetes.
There are no significant gender differences for restless leg syndrome in children, but twice as many female than male adults are afflicted with it.
In 2003, the National Institute of Health published consensus criteria for diagnosing the condition specifically in children and adolescents. (For more information see nih.gov). Unfortunately, restless leg syndrome is still significantly under-diagnosed.
It can easily be misdiagnosed, too, as tics, growing pains, muscle cramps and even attention deficit disorder. It may adversely affect a child's sleep, and could lead to extreme moodiness or poor cognitive functioning, affecting a child's education.
The condition is characterized by an urge to move associated with an unpleasant sensation in the legs. The symptoms are worse at rest, while lying or sitting in a cramped space. It may be more common while sitting during a long airline flight or while watching a movie in a cramped theatre. These uncontrolled movements associated with unpleasant sensations in the legs are relieved by movement, walking or stretching. They are typically more common at night or in the evening.
