What symptoms might lead a doctor to suspect a patient has Kleine-Levin syndrome? Kleine-Levin syndrome is an extremely rare disorder characterized by the need for excessive amounts of sleep (hypersomnolence), excessive eating (compulsive hyperphagia), and behavioral abnormalities.
What are the symptoms of Kleine Levin syndrome?
During an episode, people with Kleine Levin syndrome can also display abnormal behavior, such as excessive food intake (hyperphagia), irritability, childishness, disorientation, hallucinations, and an abnormally uninhibited sex drive.
What is Kevin Kleine-Levin syndrome?
Kleine-Levin syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by episodes of excessive sleep ( hypersomnia ), which can be up to 20 hours a day. Adolescent males are the group most frequently affected. The excessive sleep occurs in episodes that come on suddenly, last a few days to a few weeks, and may be associated with flu-like or other symptoms.
What are the signs and symptoms of KLS?
People living with KLS may not experience symptoms every day. In fact, affected individuals typically don’t have any symptoms between episodes. When symptoms do appear, they can last a few days, weeks, or even months. Common symptoms include extreme sleepiness. There may be a strong desire to go to bed and trouble getting up in the morning.
How do you diagnose Kleine-Levin syndrome?
Kleine-Levin syndrome may be confirmed based upon excessive sleep requirements (hypersomnolence); the desire to eat all available food (compulsive hyperphagia); and hypersexuality. Certain medical tests may be performed to rule out other conditions such as epilepsy, brain lesions, meningitis or encephalitis.
How do you know if you have KLS?
To be diagnosed with KLS, a person must meet first the criteria for recurrent hypersomnia: Episodes of excessive sleepiness lasting between two days and five weeks. Episodes occur at least once every 18 months and often more frequently. Normal behavior and cognition between episodes.
Why is it called Kleine-Levin syndrome?
Stimulants have been shown to promote wakefulness during episodes, but they do not counteract cognitive symptoms or decrease the duration of episodes. The condition is named after Willi Kleine and Max Levin, who described cases of the disease in the early 20th century.
What is Kleine-Levin syndrome KLS?
Kleine–Levin syndrome (KLS) is a rare disease characterized by recurrent episodes of hypersomnia and to various degrees, behavioral or cognitive disturbances, compulsive eating behavior, and hypersexuality. [1] The disease predominantly affects adolescent males.
Why can I sleep all day but not at night?
If you're tired but can't sleep, it may be a sign that your circadian rhythm is off. However, being tired all day and awake at night can also be caused by poor napping habits, anxiety, depression, caffeine consumption, blue light from devices, sleep disorders, and even diet.
Why am I sleeping so much all of a sudden?
The most common causes of excessive sleepiness are sleep deprivation and disorders like sleep apnea and insomnia. Depression and other psychiatric problems, certain medications, and medical conditions affecting the brain and body can cause daytime drowsiness as well.
What triggers a KLS episode?
While the exact cause of KLS is unknown, there is emerging evidence to suggest that cold or flu symptoms often precede a Kleine-Levin Syndrome episode. Researchers also speculate that KLS could be caused by a head injury, infection, infectious disease, or autoimmune disorder.
What is the rarest sleep disorder?
Fatal familial insomnia (FFI) is a rare genetic degenerative brain disorder. It is characterized by an inability to sleep (insomnia) that may be initially mild, but progressively worsens, leading to significant physical and mental deterioration.
Can you wake up a person with sleeping beauty syndrome?
Unlike the fictional Sleeping Beauty, people with Kleine-Levin syndrome can be woken up during an episode and may wake up occasionally on their own to eat or use the bathroom, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
What is a sleeping beauty syndrome?
Kleine–Levin syndrome (KLS), also called “Sleeping beauty syndrome” is a rare disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of hypersomnia and to various degrees, hyperphagia, cognitive disturbances, and hypersexuality.
What is it called when your days and nights are mixed up?
Circadian rhythm sleep disorders occur when people's internal sleep-wake schedule (clock) does not align with the earth's cycle of darkness (night) and light (day). Jet lag and shift work commonly disturb the usual rhythms of sleep and waking.
Is there such thing as a sleeping disease?
Narcolepsy, a condition characterized by extreme sleepiness during the day and falling asleep suddenly during the day.
What is Kleine Levin syndrome?
Kleine Levin syndrome primarily affects adolescent males, but it also affects females and individuals of other ages. The underlying cause of this condition is unknown. Episodes tend to decrease with advancing age. There are no consistently effective therapies, although stimulants (modafinil, methylphenidate, amphetamine) and mood stabilizers ...
How long does Kleine Levin syndrome last?
Affected individuals may sleep for up to 20 hours per day during an episode. These episodes usually last for a few days to a few weeks. An episode may start abruptly and is sometimes preceded by ...
What to do if you can't find a specialist?
If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists.
What is related disease?
Related diseases are conditions that have similar signs and symptoms. A health care provider may consider these conditions in the table below when making a diagnosis. Please note that the table may not include all the possible conditions related to this disease.
How Is Kleine-Levin Syndrome Diagnosed?
Typically, healthcare providers first rule out other disorders that have similar symptoms. Healthcare providers also verify that drugs or medications are not causing the symptoms.
When Should You Talk to Your Doctor About Kleine-Levin Syndrome?
If you experience symptoms of KLS, report them to your healthcare provider as early as possible. After an episode, some patients may feel embarrassed about their behavior or actions and be reluctant to share their symptoms. However, a clear understanding of your symptoms can help your doctor confirm diagnosis and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
What medications can help with KLS?
Some drugs may improve some symptoms of KLS but negatively impact others. For example, amphetamines and modafinil can treat sleepiness but worsen irritability. Temporary use of antidepressants or mood-stabilizing drugs may alleviate psychiatric symptoms. Antidepressants prevented relapse in only one known case.
Why do people with KLS become withdrawn?
Anxious or Depressed Mood: People with KLS become withdrawn during episodes because they are unable to socialize as they normally do. About 15% of people with KLS report suicidal ideation.
How many people are affected by KLS?
The disorder affects one to two people per million 2 and primarily adolescent boys. Around 70% of people with KLS are male. KLS shares characteristics similar to narcolepsy and can cause excessive sleepiness and hunger 3.
How long does it take to get KLS?
The primary symptom is excessive sleepiness that requires you to sleep for extremely long periods of time, often more than 18 hours in a day 4. There are a number of additional changes in cognition and behavior that accompany the need to excessively sleep:
What is the symptom of KLS?
Increased Appetite: A common symptom of KLS is hyperphagia 5 , or heightened focus on food and increased food intake. Typically, people with KLS eat any food offered to them 6 and especially crave sweet foods. They may increase their food intake to as many as six to eight meals a day 7.
Kleine-Levin Syndrome
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How long does it take to diagnose Kleine Levin syndrome?
The mean diagnostic delay for proper Kleine-Levin Syndrome diagnosis is four years. This means that it takes the average Kleine Levin syndrome patient four years before receiving an accurate diagnosis causing undue suffering to patients and families. The cause of Kleine-Levin Syndrome is not known.
How rare is Kleine Levin syndrome?
Kleine Levin syndrome is extremely rare, estimated at 1-2 cases per million people. More than 500 Kleine Levin syndrome cases have been reported in the medical literature. However, because cases of Kleine-Levin syndrome often go unrecognized, the disorder is under-diagnosed, making it difficult to determine its true frequency in the general population.
What is the name of the disorder where the patient is unable to focus?
In addition to excessive sleep, a Kleine-Levin Syndrome (Kleine Levin syndrome) patient’s whole demeanor is changed, often appearing “spacey” or childlike. When awake the patient experiences confusion, disorientation, complete lack of energy (lethargy), and lack of emotions (apathy). Most patients report that everything seems out of focus, and that they are hypersensitive to noise and light. In some cases, food cravings (compulsive hyperphagia) are exhibited. Instances of uninhibited hyper-sexuality during an episode have also been reported.
How many hours does Kleine Levin sleep?
Individuals with Kleine-Levin syndrome may sleep for 18 to 20 hours per day and wake only to eat, urinate, and defecate. Although affected individuals can be awakened, they may be irritable or listless (lethargic) and/or lack emotion (apathy). They may also appear confused (disoriented), or have difficulties speaking such as slurred speech. In some cases, affected individuals may experience hallucinations or sense of distorted reality in which they feel detached from their surroundings or have disconnected thinking.
What are the symptoms of depression?
Depression is a common psychiatric disorder characterized by prolonged feelings of profound sadness, unhappiness, and discouragement. Affected individuals may be irritable, have difficulty concentrating, and/or experience confusion and/or hallucinations. Some affected individuals may also experience extremes in eating behaviors: they may refuse to eat or may eat enormous amounts of food. In addition, affected individuals may sleep excessively or may be unable to sleep (insomnia). Some researchers believe that depression may be caused by a variety of factors, including diet, family history, and the interaction of many genes (polygenic inheritance), possibly in combination with environmental factors (multifactorial inheritance).
Is Kleine Levin syndrome genetic?
The underlying cause of Kleine Levin syndrome is unknown. However, researchers believe that in some cases, hereditary factors may cause some individuals to have a genetic predisposition to developing the disorder. It is thought that symptoms of Kleine-Levin syndrome may be related to malfunction of the portion of the brain that helps to regulate functions such as sleep, appetite, and body temperature (hypothalamus). Some researchers speculate that Kleine-Levin syndrome may be an autoimmune disorder.
Can Kleine Levin syndrome be confirmed?
Kleine-Levin syndrome may be confirmed based upon excessive sleep requirements (hypersomnolence); the desire to eat all available food (compulsive hyperphagia); and hypersexuality. Certain medical tests may be performed to rule out other conditions such as epilepsy, brain lesions, meningitis or encephalitis.