Hallucination or night terror?

[Traveller]

Just wondering if anyone has experience with the above conditions? Most of my kids have the occasional night terror but usually they barely wake with them. I only know what they are because Dh gets them.

Last night DS1 had what seemed to be a night terror/nightmare but he seemed to be quite awake although very confused and refused to go back to his bed because they people in the dream were still trying to get him. He is not well and had a high fever last night and I'm wondering if it was likely to be a bad dream or a fever induced hallucination. I don't really know the difference and if it was a hallucination but it has passed now do I need to worry?

He's much perkier this morning and although he still has a fever he is eating and drinking so I think he's on the mend so I'm more curious than anything.

[Novella]

Does he remember it? My DD2 never remembered a night terror but does remember nightmares. Glad he is on the mend

[~Hestia~]

Moo had a bad run with night terrors late last year, took us awhile to figure out what was going on. He always had his eyes shut, never spoke or indicated he was awake, would just scream and writhe about, he never remembered it. Hope it was just a one off for your little guy!

[Traveller]

yes he remembered it, and usually with night terrors they don't remember the next day. It was probably just a nightmare given that it happened when he was asleep. His temp has got quite high again and he hasn't hallucinated so hopefully it was just a bad dream. I know I get bad and vivid dreams when I'm ill so maybe it was just that.

[~Kim~]

I'd go with the fever induced hallucination. My big girl gets them too.
Poor guy.

[Traveller]

Kim what do you do when your little one gets one? Just the usual fever treatment or something extra?

[~Kim~]

Sorry Trav, I've had a half typed reply on here for hours and kept getting interrupted.

She's had night terrors for years so I'm a pro.
If I'm sure it's an hallucination (so like never), I wake her up. And treat her fever. Some kids are awake though, so I'm not sure what I'd do then. How did he react to being touched/ spoken to?
Neither of mine can be touched though if it is a terror (which also happen when they're sick...), so I have to run the gauntlet and test it out.

[Traveller]

Thanks Kim, that's good advice. his temp is climbing again now so he's tucked up in bed with Dh and we will try and keep him cool with panadol/ice packs, etc. Hopefully he'll get more rest tonight.

[~Kim~]

How'd he go Trav?

[Traveller]

Fine overnight. His fever peaked at bedtime and he's right as rain today