General Information About Sleep Apnea in Children
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the cessation of a child's breathing for seconds (sometimes repeatedly) during sleep due to the relaxation of throat muscles and the presence of tissues blocking the airways.
The biggest culprits of apnea in childhood are excessively enlarged adenoids and large tonsils. Obesity, allergic rhinitis, and structural abnormalities of the jaw are other contributing factors.
Symptoms include loud snoring at night, sudden gasping awakenings following a pause in breathing, excessive sweating in bed, restless tossing and turning, and mouth breathing with the neck hyperextended.
Yes. Children who do not get quality sleep do not doze off during the day like adults do; instead, they exhibit hyperactivity, irritability, attention deficit, and declining school performance. Furthermore, since growth hormone is secreted during sleep, physical growth may be delayed.
An endoscopic examination of the adenoids and tonsils by an ENT specialist is the fundamental diagnostic step. A definitive diagnosis is established through a Sleep Study (Polysomnography), which measures respiratory efforts and brain waves during sleep.
For apnea caused by enlarged adenoids and tonsils, the gold standard treatment is the surgical removal of these tissues (Adenotonsillectomy). The child's breathing improves the very same night, and their quality of life rapidly returns to normal.
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