[Melatonin treatment of a blind child with serious sleep disorders].
BACKGROUND
Children with developmental and neurological disabilities are prone to develop serious sleep-wake cycle disorders that may be difficult to treat.


METHODS
Case history.


RESULTS
A 5-year old blind boy with multiple disabilities developed a chronic sleep-wake cycle disorder as his main clinical problem. Treatment included introduction of strict sleep habits and strengthening of environmental "zeitgebers". After five months melatonin 3 mg was administered at night for 4 weeks. The observation period also included 3 weeks without melatonin. Sleep was registered prospectively by a sleep diary. Strict sleep habits combined with strengthening of "zeitgebers" partially improved the sleep problems, but did not establish a normal sleep pattern. When melatonin was added, he normalized his sleep pattern in a few days. His sleep problems returned during the weeks in which he did not receive melatonin. No side effects were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Melatonin is a promising treatment alternative for serious sleep problems in blind children.
Ramstad
Kjersti
K
Barneavdelingen, seksjon for habilitering Akershus universitetssykehus 1474 Nordbyhagen. kjersti_ramstad@hotmail.com
Loge
Jon Håvard
JH
D001766:Blindness / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008550:Melatonin