Sleep terrors differ from nightmares. The dreamer of a nightmare wakes up from the dream and may remember details, but a person who has a sleep terror episode remains asleep. Children usually don't remember anything about their sleep terrors in the morning. Adults may recall a dream fragment they had during the sleep terrors. Sleep terrors generally occur in the first third to first half of the night, and rarely during naps. A sleep terror may lead to sleepwalking. During a sleep terror episode, a person may: 
Begin with a frightening scream or shout
Sit up in bed and appear frightened
Stare wide-eyed
Sweat, breathe heavily, and have a racing pulse, flushed face and dilated pupils
Kick and thrash
Be hard to awaken, and be confused if awakened
Be inconsolable
Have no or little memory of the event the next morning
Possibly, get out of bed and run around the house or have aggressive behavior if blocked or restrained
 When to see a doctor Occasional sleep terrors aren't usually a cause for concern. If your child has sleep terrors, you can simply mention them at a routine well-child exam. However, consult your doctor if sleep terrors: 
Become more frequent
Routinely disrupt the sleep of the person with sleep terrors or other family members
Lead to safety concerns or injury
Result in daytime symptoms of excessive sleepiness or problems functioning
Continue beyond the teen years or start in adulthood
