A child’s normal response to lack of sleep or an unusually late night is drowsiness (or excessive sleepiness). Also, a sick child—such as one who has the flu—is likely to sleep more than usual. If your child suddenly becomes unusually tired or unresponsive, if they are hard to get up from sleep, or if there is no evident cause, consult the questionnaire above. A serious symptom like this shouldn’t ever be disregarded.
Lumbar puncture
If meningitis is suspected in a child, a lumbar puncture is required to determine if the illness is caused by viruses or bacterial infection. This test is syringing a sample of the fluid from the base of the spine that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Before the needle is put, the area is numbed, so most kids experience little discomfort.
A sample of cerebrospinal fluid can be taken off by inserting the syringe needle between the vertebrae at the base of the spine.
Waking up late in the morning
Children can be categorized into two groups, similar to adults, depending on when they wake up and how effectively they operate in the morning. The other category includes kids who wake up later in the morning and are more active in the evening. Which of these categories your child belongs to will probably become clear from an early age. Parents of late-waking children frequently worry that their child’s resistance to rising in the morning is an indication of sleep deprivation or a physical condition, especially if they are early risers themselves. But, if a child is otherwise healthy, awake, and active for the majority of the rest of the day, but takes an hour or two to wake up in the morning, there is typically little to worry about. Enforcing an early bedtime on a youngster who is energetic is unlikely to solve the issue and could even cause unnecessary conflict.
When you should see a doctor
While it is not a cause for concern if a child is just consistently sluggish in the mornings, you should see a doctor in the following circumstances:
- if your kid exhibits signs of sleepiness at other times of the day.
- if a child who generally wakes up early is unusually sleepy in the morning with no apparent cause.