Sleepwalking occurs when a person walks or carries out complex activities while not fully awake. It usually happens during a period of deep sleep, mostly during the first few hours after falling asleep. Sleepwalking can start at any age but it is more common in children. It is thought that 1 in 5 children will sleepwalk at least once. Most grow out of it by the time they reach puberty, however, it can sometimes persist into adulthood. In some episodes of sleepwalking, a person may just sit up in bed and look around, briefly appearing confused. Others may get out of bed and walk about, get dressed or eat, and they may appear agitated. In extreme cases, the person may walk out of the house and carry out complex activities, such as driving a car.
