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Article: Melatonin for children with chronic insomnia.(MEDICAL NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD)
- Article from:
- Nutrition Health Review
- Article date:
- December 22, 2003
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Copyright informationCOPYRIGHT 2003 Vegetus Publications. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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THE NETHERLANDS--Melatonin has been shown to be an effective treatment for children with chronic insomnia, according to a study published in late 2003.
Chronic insomnia affects nearly 10 percent of healthy school-aged children and can affect overall function and behavior patterns.
The study included elementary school children with idiopathic sleep-onset insomnia who were referred to a sleep center. Comorbid Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was found in 45 percent of the participants, and most of those children were being treated with stimulants. The insomnia, however, predated the stimulant therapy, and further studies ruled out a link to ADHD symptoms.