Restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movements disorder in children and adolescents

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common and treatable neurological disorder affecting 5% to 10% of adults in some countries (1). In the United States alone, more than 10 million adults are believed to have RLS. Studies have shown that the symptoms often begin in childhood or adolescence, with about 35% reporting onset of RLS prior to age 20 (2,3). Multiple reports have now documented the childhood occurrence of RLS, as well as the related problem of periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) (4-12).