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Sleep Apnea in Children

We often think of snoring as an adult problem, but children not only snore, they can suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a life-threatening condition. Normally, OSA develops in children between the age of three and six, but it can occur in infancy. Children with OSA stop breathing in their sleep, causing sleep deprivation and oxygen deprivation. OSA can stunt a child's development, lead to behavioral and learning problems, and create life-threatening health conditions and even death.

Causes

When a child has OSA, the muscles of the throat and mouth relax during sleep allowing the airway to collapse and obstructing airflow. In most children, OSA is caused by enlarged tonsils or adenoids. It can also be caused by facial deformities. Children with Downs Syndrome are at an elevated risk.

Symptoms

You may or may not notice sleep behavior that indicates OSA. Parents who sleep with their children are typically acutely aware of the nighttime symptoms. Symptoms that can occur during sleep include:

• Snoring
• Snorting
• Gasping
• Choking
• Heavy breathing
• Mouth breathing
• Irregular breathing
• Excessive sweating
• Restlessness
• Chest retraction
• Persistently sleeping in strange positions
• Nightmares
• Night terrors
• Bedwetting

During the day, children with OSA suffer from sleep deprivation and display symptoms such as:

• Morning confusion
• Morning headaches
• Irritability
• Daytime sleepiness
• Difficulty concentrating

Long-term consequences

Undiagnosed and untreated OSA can lead to deadly health problems and, at the very least, have a negative impact on a child's relationships and progress in school. Children with OSA often wind up taking dangerous medications for behavioral problems. Over time serious problems caused by OSA can include:

• Frequent upper respiratory infections
• Change in personality
• Depression
• Hyperactivity
• ADHD
• Learning disabilities
• Developmental problems
• Failure to thrive or grow
• High blood pressure
• Heart problems
• Obesity

Treatment

The good news for children with OSA and their families is that the condition can be treated successfully. Most children can be relieved of symptoms by simply removing their tonsils and adenoids. Other procedures, such as surgery to correct a deviated septum, can help some children.

CPAP is an option for children who cannot be helped in other ways. It is a common treatment option for adults but not preferred in children because of compliance issues. Even most adults do not use CPAP correctly. When it is used correctly, however, it is incredibly effective in relieving sleep apnea symptoms. CPAP involves wearing a mask at night that provides continuous air pressure and keeps the airways open.

Sleep apnea is a very dangerous problem for children, which is often overlooked by parents and doctors. If you suspect that your child has sleep apnea, you should take your child to a sleep specialist right away.

Seek relief from the symptoms of sleep apnea with specialized treatment from ihatecpap.com. If you or a your child may be losing sleep due to sleep apnea, call or email ihatecpap.com today for a consultation with our renowned sleep apnea physicians.