Sleep Apnea In Children

The experts stated that sleep apnea in children can indicate the likelihood of children at risk for several serious health problems.

When children experience sleep deprivation, of course, can disrupt the child's daily routines, and so did with excess sleep. Sleep apnea is a form of disruption that often occurs in children. This disorder is characterized by the loss of a child breathing momentarily during sleep. While not everyone who snores has sleep disorder, but snoring is a sign that most often occur, and for those who suffer from sleep apnea also had difficulty breathing.

American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) informed that parents need to be concerned when they hear their kids snore during their sleep. Occasionally, upper respiratory tract infection can cause enlargement of the tonsils, thus blocking the smooth movement of air passing from mouth and nose to the lungs. Excessive weight can also cause or increase the risk of children for having OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea).

Sleep apnea in children is generally characterized with signs or symptoms such as:

·         Daytime excessive sleepiness.

·         The reduced of weight gain or very little improvement, if any.

·         Breathing through the mouth.

·         Enlarged tonsils.

·         Sleep disorders (do not sleep soundly).

·         Cognitive and behavioral disorders during the day, such as poor concentration, become aggressive and hyperactive.

If you suspect your child has the OSA symptoms, then you need to consult the ENT specialist who has Otolaryngology subspecialist. If the symptoms persist until the end of childhood, his condition can cause increased blood pressure and the decline of academic values ​​in schools. 

How to handle it?

A doctor will examine if and how a child has sleep apnea. When the cause is being overweight or allergies, then the doctor will first address the main cause. Sometimes, the diagnosis of OSA is quite difficult to make and children also need to undergo some tests to see the cause of snoring. Generally this is done with Polysomnography (PSG), which monitors brain waves, muscle tension, eye movement, respiration / breathing, oxygen levels in the blood and audio monitoring (snoring, etc.) during sleep.

OSA or sleep apnea in children is often treated with surgical removal of tonsils. The other method is somnoplasty, namely lifting excessive throat tissue, by using radio frequency waves to remove the tissue. Another method is laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP).

If sleep apnea in children is still present after surgery, then the child needs help with a mask during sleep, so as to accelerate the intake of air through the nasal passages. This therapy is commonly referred to as nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).