Yesterday I got a very interesting case. According to a mother, her son is okay in all respect. His intelligence, dietary habit, social relationship, school performance are good.

But she observed that her son who is seven years old having some sorts of sleep problem. Now a days often at dead of night he step down from his cot and start walking in an around the bed; then again get on to bed and go to sleep.

Mother looked a bit anxious and afraid of the situation, as the child can't remember anything what he did the previous night during sleep.

This is a typical presentation of somnambulism (a.k.a. sleepwalking). I reassured the mother and told her hopefully this will go off in adolescent period (9-19 years) and prescribed clonazepam only.

Somnambulism is an interest to the researcher. These children are found walking around bed, takes water or some food from kitchen and again go to bed and sleeps.

But they cannot remember these activities they did at night, as their consciousness has altered into a state in which it is harder to recall memories. Although their eyes are open, their expression is dim and glazed over. Sleepwalking may last as little as 30 seconds or as long as 30 minutes.

Several experts theorise that the development of sleepwalking in childhood is due to a delay in maturation, may be familial or genetic or may be due to stress and anxiety. Mostly it is unknown. Drug and alcohol consumption has been linked to sleep walking activity.

Anyway this sleep walking problem can happen to your children as well and you should not be very much anxious. Observe it few nights and consult a physician, but don't ignore it.

The author works at Community Based Medical College, Mymensingh. E-mail: mmukkhan@gmail.com