Parasomnias
Paediatric

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Emergency Referrals

Useful Management Information

Parental reassurance as most parasomnias are benign and often self-limiting
Focus on healthy sleep patterns
Scheduled waking 30 mins prior to parasomnia consistently over 2-3 weeks (for night terrors, sleep walking/talking, rhythmic movement disorder)
Reassurance for child and 'suggestion' ("Let's go back to bed") for most parasomnias
Avoid waking the child as this can cause extreme agitation/confusion

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?

Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)	No category 1 criteria
Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)	Parasomnia with a history of injury or harm to patient/others where environment is not able to be made safe (e.g., using additional locks on doors or barriers to stairs)
Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)	Parasomnia with one or more of: Patient experiencing significant daytime tiredness Very frequent episodes resulting in family sleep disruption Potential patient harm during parasomnia Patient/family has used appropriate resources without success
If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria Assessment and management information may be found on a range of conditions at HealthPathways If the patient does not meet the criteria for referral but the referring practitioner believes the patient requires specialist review, a clinical override may be requested: Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.) Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service

Standard Referral Information

Reason for request

To establish a diagnosis
For treatment or intervention
For advice and management
For specialist to take over management
Reassurance for GP/second opinion
For a specified test/investigation the GP can't order, or the patient can't afford or access
Reassurance for the patient/family
For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary

Relevant clinical information about the condition

Presenting symptoms (evolution and duration)
Physical findings
Details of previous treatment (including systemic and topical medications prescribed) including the course and outcome of the treatment
All conservative options that have been pursued unsuccessfully prior to referral
Body mass index (BMI)
Details of any associated medical conditions which may affect the condition or its treatment (e.g. diabetes), noting these must be stable and controlled prior to referral
Any special care requirements where relevant (e.g tracheostomy in place, oxygen required)
Current medications and dosages
Drug allergies
Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use

Patient's Demographic Details

Full name (including aliases)
Date and country of birth
Residential and postal address including whether patient resides at an aged care facility
Telephone contact number/s – home, mobile and alternative
Medicare number (where eligible)
Name of the parent or caregiver (if appropriate)
Name of delegate and contact details (Department of Corrective Services)
Preferred language and interpreter requirements
Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
Any special needs, access requirements and/or disability relevant to the referral

Referring Practitioner Details

Full name
Full address
Contact details – telephone, fax, email
Provider number
Date of referral
Signature
Nominated general practitioner’s details (if known), if the nominated general practitioner is different from the referring practitioner

Other relevant information

Willingness to have surgery (where surgery is a likely intervention)
Choice to be treated as a public or private patient
Compensable status (e.g. DVA, Work Cover, Motor Vehicle Insurance, etc.)

Essential Referral Information

Detailed sleep history
Presenting complaint and reason for referral
Assessment of relevant contributory factors such as psychosocial and environmental contributors
Family History
Reason for referral other than to provide reassurrance
Encourage videoing of events

Additional Referral Information

Resources for clinicians

Sleep health foundation: Parasomnias | Sleep Health Foundation
ASA Parasomnias in children factsheet

Resources for patients/parents/carers:

Raising Children: Preschoolers: nightmares, night terrors & sleepwalking | Raising Children Network

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Preferred Method About Smart Referrals

Secure Web Transfer

Not Available

Internal Referrals

(e-BlueSlips)

Fax

(07) 5687 4497

Post

Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215

Enquiries

1300 744 284

Related HealthPathways

No directly related pathways found

HealthPathways home page

Service Availability

Dr Susan Moloney

Medical Director Paediatric Medicine (General Paediatrics)

Facilities

Gold Coast University Hospital

If you would like to send a named referral, please address it to the specialist listed above, who will allocate a suitably qualified specialist to see the patient. Alternatively, you can view a full list of our specialists.

Child Safety

If you have a reason to suspect a child in Queensland is experiencing harm, or is at risk of experiencing harm, contact Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Services . Please consider if mandatory reporting applies.

ParasomniasPaediatric