Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when your child stops breathing during sleep. The cessation of breathing usually occurs because there is a blockage (obstruction) in the airway.
Many of the short pauses in breathing (lasting only a few seconds) cause a brief arousal from sleep. Although the actual number of minutes of arousal during the night may be small, the repeated disruptions can result in a poor night's sleep, which can lead to significant problems in children.
Every child is different and symptoms may vary. Symptoms may include:
• Snoring
• Periods of not breathing
• Mouth breathing
• Restlessness during sleep — the frequent arousals lead to restless sleeping
• Sleeping in odd positions — the child may arch his neck backwards (hyperextend) in order to open the airway or sleep sitting up.
• Behavior problems or sleepiness — may include irritability, crankiness, frustration, hyperactivity and difficulty paying attention.
• School problems — children may do poorly in school, "slow" or "lazy."
• Bedwetting
• Frequent infections
If left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can cause poor growth, can also affect behavior and cognition. Therefore, it is important to get it evaluated early.
The most common cause of obstructive sleep apnea in children is enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids. Sleep apnea is more common in children who are overweight. However, some children with enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids may even be underweight.
Experts at our hospital will evaluate accordingly. In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic procedures will include nasal endoscopy - a non-invasive procedure which will allow to determine if the adenoids are enlarged, which could be contributing to sleep apnea.
The treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is based on its cause. Since enlarged tonsils and adenoids are the most common cause of obstructive sleep apnea in children, surgical removal of the tonsils (tonsillectomy) and adenoids (adenoidectomy) is usually the recommended to treat upper airway obstruction.
Weight loss and treatment of other medical problems may also be helpful in the management of obstructive sleep apnea.