As with adults, children are also affected by the condition of sleep apnea, which results in oxygen levels dropping whilst asleep. Sleep apnea differs from snoring, although 10-20% of children who snore have sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea in Children – Warning Signs
The main sign that a child is suffering from sleep apnea is when he or she has abnormally long pauses in breathing. It is important to understand that mild snoring from time to time (especially when a child has a cold) is perfectly normal. In Baby & Toddler Sleep Solutions For Dummies, Lavin & Glaser (2007) highlight the following potential warning signs:
- very loud snoring
- snoring every night
- snoring in every position (mild snoring usually stops when tots roll over)
- thrashing during snoring (looking hungry for air)
- snoring causing child to wake up
- new/reactivated bed-wetting (sleep apnea can increase urine production)
- sleep shortage - overly tired, irritable, moody
- attention deficit (5%+ of attention deficit actually have sleep apnea)
- slowed growth
Alternatives to sleep apnea may relate to snoring, which can be down to a child being overweight, having a heavy cold or suffering from allergies. As it is quite difficult to know whether a child has a problem with snoring or is suffering from sleep apnea, a simple device may be used in a sleep lab is able to identify between the two.
Treatment for Sleep Apnea in Children
If one is concerned that a child is snoring in a distressed manner or has identified some of the above potential warning signs, make an appointment to see the family doctor or a paediatrician. Lavin & Glaser (2007) identify that treatment for children who have been diagnosed as suffering from sleep apnoea will typically include one of the following:
- nasal steroids (nose spray)
- surgery to remove tonsils
- surgery to remove tonsils and adenoids
Until the 1980s, the most common form of sleep apnea treatment involved undergoing a tracheotomy. This is an invasive procedure, which thankfully these days is now only used as a last resort. Another form of treatment involves using a C-PAP (continuous positive airway pressure), a device used to keep the airways open when the child is asleep.
As highlighted above, potential warning signs associated with sleep apnea in children include distressed snoring and sleep shortage. Sleep apnea may be distinguished from snoring through attending a sleep clinic, while treatment typically involves nasal steroids and surgery to remove tonsils.
Source:
Lavin, A. & Glaser, S. (2007) Baby & Toddler Sleep Solutions For Dummies Chichester: John Wiley & Sons
Kate Le Page - Kate Henning-Le Page writes about eating disorders, body image and recovery issues. She specializes in anorexia recovery.
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