DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My child moves around a lot at bedtime and has trouble falling asleep. She describes "bugs" on her legs. As someone who was diagnosed with restless legs syndrome, I am wondering if children can develop restless legs syndrome, too?
ANSWER: Yes, children can have restless legs syndrome. You also may hear it called Willis Ekbom disease, based on the names of the physicians who first described this condition.
Just like adults, children can have sensations in their legs that makes it hard for them to fall or stay asleep. If the sensation happens regularly, they may have restless legs syndrome, which is considered a sleep disorder.
