Night terrors, also called sleep terrors, are common, affecting 1 to 3 percent of children and some adults as well. They often run in families. In children, night terrors often start with screaming, after which the child may be agitated and inconsolable. Kids look awake – their eyes are usually open – but their “brains are deeply asleep,” said Dr. Judith Owens, associate professor of pediatrics at Brown University Medical School. After an episode, kids go back to sleep and have no memory of the event. Adults are more likely to be aware of an episode.