Abstract Objective To review, critically analyze and synthesize knowledge from the international literature regarding the association between allergic rhinitis (AR) and sleep disorders, the impact of AR treatment on children's sleep, and lay the foundation for future research on this topic. Source of data A literature search using PubMed database including original and review articles, systematic reviews and meta-analyses using keywords related to AR, sleep disorders and sleep-disordered breathing. Synthesis of data Sleep is fundamental to health, and its assessment and control of conditions that trigger or aggravate disturbances are of the uttermost importance. Allergic rhinitis (AR) is common in children and may interfere with both their quality of life and quality of sleep. It has emerged as one of the most important risk factors for habitual snoring in children and appeared to increase the risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), with AR severity exhibiting a significant and independent association with pediatric OSA severity. However, in some studies, those associations between AR and OSA in children are not very consistent. Conclusions A substantial level of controversy exists regarding the interactions between AR and OSA in children. Notwithstanding, identifying and treating AR in clinical settings is probably an important step toward improving symptoms and preventing deterioration of sleep quality in children and may improve the severity of underlying OSA. Considering the high prevalence, morbidity, economic and social implications of both AR and sleep problems, it is crucial that healthcare providers improve their understanding of the relationships between those conditions among children.

Resumo Objetivos: Revisar as características clínicas, as comorbidades e o manejo da insônia na infância e adolescência. Fonte dos dados: Revisão não sistemática da literatura feita na base dados PubMed, na qual foram selecionados artigos publicados nos últimos cinco anos, com o uso da palavra-chave insônia e o filtro faixa etária pediátrica. Adicionalmente foram incluídos artigos e livros-texto clássicos da literatura sobre o tema. Síntese dos dados: Na infância existe predomínio da insônia comportamental na forma de distúrbio de início do sono por associações inadequadas e/ou distúrbio pela falta de estabelecimento de limites. Na adolescência a insônia está mais associada a problemas de higiene do sono e atraso de fase. Transtornos psiquiátricos (ansiedade, depressão) ou do neurodesenvolvimento (transtorno do déficit de atenção, autismo, epilepsias) ocorrem com frequência em associação ou como comorbidade do quadro de insônia. Conclusões: A queixa de insônia nas crianças e nos adolescentes deve ser valorizada e adequadamente investigada pelo pediatra, que levará em consideração a associação com diversas comorbidades, que também devem ser diagnosticas. As causas principais de insônia e fatores desencadeantes variam de acordo com a idade e o nível de desenvolvimento. A abordagem terapêutica deve incluir medidas de higiene do sono e técnicas comportamentais e em casos individualizados tratamento farmacológico.

Abstract Objectives: To review the clinical characteristics, comorbidities, and management of insomnia in childhood and adolescence. Sources: This was a non-systematic literature review carried out in the PubMed database, from where articles published in the last five years were selected, using the key word “insomnia” and the pediatric age group filter. Additionally, the study also included articles and classic textbooks of the literature on the subject. Data synthesis: During childhood, there is a predominance of behavioral insomnia as a form of sleep-onset association disorder (SOAD) and/or limit-setting sleep disorder. Adolescent insomnia is more associated with sleep hygiene problems and delayed sleep phase. Psychiatric (anxiety, depression) or neurodevelopmental disorders (attention deficit disorder, autism, epilepsy) frequently occur in association with or as a comorbidity of insomnia. Conclusions: Insomnia complaints in children and adolescents should be taken into account and appropriately investigated by the pediatrician, considering the association with several comorbidities, which must also be diagnosed. The main causes of insomnia and triggering factors vary according to age and development level. The therapeutic approach must include sleep hygiene and behavioral techniques and, in individual cases, pharmacological treatment.

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste artigo é revisar a literatura sobre a genética dos distúrbios do sono na infância e adolescência. FONTES DOS DADOS: As palavras-chave "sono" e "genética" foram usadas para pesquisar por artigos publicados nos últimos cinco anos no banco de dados MEDLINE. A seguir, seus resumos foram analisados. A pesquisa também incluiu artigos clássicos, com a primeira descrição dos genes. SÍNTESE DOS DADOS: A recorrência familiar de muitos distúrbios do sono é um achado freqüente, mas loci genéticos foram descobertos para poucos deles. Descrevemos aqui distúrbios do sono transmitidos por herança genética e também aqueles que apresentam altos índices de recorrência familiar, apesar de nenhum gene específico haver sido encontrado. CONCLUSÕES: Apesar da maioria dos distúrbios do sono ainda não terem uma base molecular identificada, técnicas modernas são cada vez mais utilizadas para determinar a contribuição dos genes ao sono e aos seus distúrbios associados. A importância clínica destas descobertas pode estar relacionada com a melhoria de métodos diagnósticos, mas também como alvo para o desenvolvimento de medicações específicas.

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature regarding the genetics of sleep disorders in childhood and adolescence. SOURCES: Articles published in the past 5 years were searched on MEDLINE using the keywords sleep and genetics. Abstracts were then analyzed. Classical articles with the first description of genes were also included. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS: We often find familial recurrence in many sleep disorders. However, gene loci were discovered for only a few of them. We describe sleep disorders transmitted by genetic heritance and also those in that, although a gene was not found, familial recurrence is high. CONCLUSION: Although most of the sleep disorders do not have by now an identified molecular basis, modern techniques are being increasingly applied to determine the contribution of genes to sleep and its associated disorders. The clinical importance of these discoveries may relate not only to improving diagnostic methods but also as a target for drug development.