The sleep disorder which affects a child’s breathing is known as pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. This condition causes breathing blockage of the upper airway which happens during sleep.

Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea is quite different to sleep apnea in adults. The main difference is that this condition causes daytime sleepiness in adults and behavioural problems in children. Moreover, adults experience this sleep disorder due to obesity while in children, it happened as a result of an enlargement of the adenoids and tonsils. Children who have this condition are prone to various complications. In fact, sleep apnea can affect the behaviour, growth, and cognitive development in children. Thus, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial.

Symptoms of Pediatric Sleep Apnea

Symptoms of pediatric sleep apnea might include pauses in breathing, coughing, bed wetting, mouth breathing, snoring, and sleep terrors. Additionally, children who have pediatric obstructive sleep apnea will likely deal with learning and behavioural problems, difficulty paying attention, poor performance in school, and are hyperactive.

Pediatric Sleep Apnea Causes and Risk Factors

The most common trigger for obstructive sleep apnea in adults is obesity. However, the cause for this sleep disorder in children is enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Other causes and risk factors for pediatric sleep apnea might include craniofacial anomalies and neuromuscular disorders, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, abnormalities in the skull or face, neuromuscular disease, and history of low birth weight.

Pediatric Sleep Apnea Complications

Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea might lead to some serious complications, such as death, heart issues, and failure to grow.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Proper and timely diagnosis of the condition is very important. The first thing is a diagnosis, which requires a doctor’s appointment. Hence, the doctor will check the symptoms and medical history. Moreover, they will conduct a physical exam, which might include several tests. There are three most common and effective tests to diagnose the condition.

Oximetry is an overnight recording of oxygen levels which can help in the condition diagnosis. This test can be conducted at home. However, if the test doesn’t give the proper results, the child might need to have a polysomnogram.

Polysomnogram is a test which uses sensors which are applied to the body to record brain wave activity, snoring, breathing patterns, heart rate, oxygen levels, and muscle activity while the child sleeps. Polysomnogram is an overnight sleep study.

Electrocardiogram uses sensor patches with wires which are attached to measure the electrical impulses given off by the child's heart. This test can also show if there is an underlying heart condition.

If pediatric obstructive sleep apnea is diagnosed, the doctor will determine which is the most appropriate treatment.

Some of the most common treatment options include medications, positive airways pressure therapy, oral appliances, removal of the tonsils and adenoids, and lifestyle changes.

Some of the most common medications which your child is likely to take are fluticasone and budesonide. These topical nasal steroids can ease the symptoms. Moreover, your doctor might suggest using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This machine gently blows air through a tube and the child has to wear a mask.

Likewise, the doctor might suggest using oral appliances, such as mouthpieces or dental devices, which will keep the child's upper airway open. If these methods don’t help, the doctor might recommend an adenotonsillectomy, which is a removal of the tonsils and adenoids. This procedure will open the airway and treat sleep apnea.

Last but not least, some minor lifestyle changes are also necessary, such as weight loss, and staying away from airway irritants and allergens. Proper diet and avoiding tobacco smoke or other indoor allergens or pollutants might also ease pediatric obstructive sleep apnea symptoms.