Leg Cramps at Night in Children

Although nighttime leg cramps are more common among older adults and pregnant women, they can affect children - usually in the calf, although they can also occur in the foot or thigh. Most of the time these cramps end within a few minutes without complications. But they can be a sign of an underlying medical condition. Repeated occurrences should be brought to a doctor's attention.

Frequency and Duration

• A 12-month study of 2,527 patients at the pediatrics department of the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, showed that about 7 percent had suffered from leg cramps; the average duration of those cramps was just under two minutes and the number of episodes of the leg cramps was one to four times a year. Eight out of 10 children experiencing leg cramps had them at night, and about 30 percent had lingering pain in the affected area. A majority of those suffering from the leg cramps were over the age of 12; none was under the age of 8 and most were between 16 and 18 years old.

Common Causes

• According to Dr. Alan Greene, a professor, pediatrician and proprietor of DrGreene.com, nighttime muscle spasms, or cramps, in legs can occur in children whose muscles or tendons are too tight for the growing long bones. Dr. Greene recommends treating the spasm by stretching the foot and pointing the toes upward.

  The Cleveland Clinic states that nocturnal leg cramps can be brought on by extended periods of sitting or sitting improperly; dehydration; over-exertion of the muscles; and standing on concrete floors. Contracting the calf muscle while asleep can also bring on a cramp.

Underlying Medical Causes

• The American Academy of Family Physicians warns parents that a quick diagnosis of harmless nocturnal leg cramps may overlook a more serious condition. In an article for Lancaster General Hospital in Pennsylvania, Roland J. Larrabee, M.D., writes that some diseases with symptoms of leg cramps in children can include Addison's disease, celiac disease, and acquired hypothyroidism.

  The AAFP and the American Academy of Pediatrics advise parents to seek medial advice for their child if she experiences persistent leg cramps; persistent pain; pain in the morning; swelling, tenderness, and redness in a joint; pain associated with an injury; or limping, weakness, or unusual tiredness.

Treatment

• If a child or adolescent's nocturnal leg cramps have no underlying medical cause, the Cleveland Clinic recommends the following preventative measures: drinking plenty of water throughout the day (six to 8 cups) to stay hydrated; stretching the calf muscles right before bed; and loosening the sheets and blankets at the foot of the bed. For lingering pain at the cramp site, parents can try applying warm, moist heat or ice packs.

  The Cleveland Clinic reports that quinine, a substance that occurs naturally in the bark of the cinchona tree, was once recommended for the prevention of frequent leg cramps; however, due to serious and potentially fatal side-effects, the Food and Drug Administration now prohibits companies from marketing quinine for that off-label use. The FDA approves quinine only in prescription form, and only for the treatment of malaria.

Restless Leg Syndrome

• Parents whose child awakens from an occasional nighttime leg cramp might confuse it with Restless Leg Syndrome; the two are not related. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, RLS is a neurological disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs, usually when in bed resting or trying to sleep, and an uncontrollable urge to move them. Symptoms can range from uncomfortable to irritating to painful.