Questions: Which sleep finding is consistent with a child waking up at night, screaming, thrashing, sweating, being unaware of the parents' presence when checked on, and lying back down to sleep without parental intervention? Nightmares Sleep apnea Sleep terrors Seizure activity

The answer is the third one: Sleep terrors.

Explanation for each option:

1. Nightmares: Nightmares typically occur during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep and often result in the child waking up and being aware of their surroundings. The child can usually recall the content of the nightmare and may seek comfort from parents. This does not match the description of the child being unaware of the parents' presence.

2. Sleep apnea: Sleep apnea involves repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep, which can cause the child to wake up. However, it is not typically associated with screaming, thrashing, or being unaware of the parents' presence. The symptoms described do not align with sleep apnea.

3. Sleep terrors: Sleep terrors, also known as night terrors, occur during non-REM sleep and are characterized by episodes of intense fear, screaming, thrashing, and sweating. During these episodes, the child is often unaware of their surroundings and does not recognize the presence of others. After the episode, the child usually lies back down and returns to sleep without needing parental intervention. This matches the description provided in the question.

4. Seizure activity: While seizures can occur during sleep and may involve thrashing or other movements, they are not typically characterized by the specific pattern of waking up, screaming, and then returning to sleep without intervention. Additionally, seizures would require medical evaluation and are not typically resolved by simply lying back down to sleep.

In summary, the symptoms described in the question are most consistent with sleep terrors.