Sleep Apnea in Children

Sleep apnea in children is more common than most of us realize, but it's not always easily recognized.

CSA happens when the systems that regulate breathing don't work correctly, or are immature/ineffective. It's often seen in preemies, newborns and babies under 9 months old.

Fortunately, as these babies grow and develop, their systems mature and they often outgrow Central Sleep Apnea.

OSA usually occurs in older babies, toddlers and young children, and research indicates that between 1% and 3% of preschoolers may suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Recognizing Sleep Apnea in Children

Sometimes a baby may gag, turn blue/grey or appear limp - this is due to a lack of oxygen and if this happens it can be life-threatening.

Of course, all moms know how irregular a baby's breathing can seem, even when he/she is full term and perfectly healthy. I think we've all hovered over cribs, holding our breath until the next tiny inhale!

Although, this apparently irregular breathing pattern is often quite normal and nothing to worry about, if breathing stops for more than 6 - 8 seconds in babies (or more than 10 seconds in older infants) you need to have your baby evaluated by a doctor.

If you are ever, at all, concerned about the regularity of your baby's respiration, ALWAYS seek a doctors' opinion right away. It's definitely better to be safe than sorry, and docs don't mind an over-protective mom, they see them all the time!

The main symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in children are irregular or labored breathing interspersed with periods of non-breathing, and usually accompanied by snoring. Research shows that between 10% and 20% of children snore regularly, or intermittently, but of course not all those cases are due to OSA.

Snoring can be due to enlarged adenoids or tonsils, allergies, upper respiratory tract infections, being overweight and more. It's important to let a doctor examine and evaluate your child if he/she snores, so that he can make a diagnosis and get the right treatment started.

Causes of Childhood Sleep Apnea

In premature babies and infants, an immature respiratory system is often to blame, but in older babies and children it's often more complex.

Physical problems such as enlarged adenoids/tonsils, cleft palate, facial abnormalities, being overweight, allergies or certain conditions such as Downs' Syndrome can also be at the root of childhood sleep apnea.

Unexpected side effects of OSA

But there are other, less obvious and often overlooked signs that something may be wrong.

Like any other sleep disorder, childhood sleep apnea causes sufferers to lose sleep, and sleep deprivation leads to all sorts of health and behavioral problems.

Children or babies with sleep apnea may suffer from any of the following:

• 'Failure to thrive' This basically means that a child who is deprived of adequate sleep may grow more slowly than normal. His/her weight gain may be poor, and physical development could be delayed. Our bodies are very 'busy' while we sleep, and in children growth hormones are released during this time. If your child is consistently losing sleep, the distribution of these hormones may be affected, resulting in slower-than-normal growth and development.


• Other sleep disorders
  Children with sleep apnea can also show symptoms of other sleep disorders such as night terrors, nightmares and bedwetting.


• 'Strange' sleeping positions'
  In order to breathe more easily, some children adopt odd or unusual sleeping postions, remain in the same position for extended periods, and get irritable if disturbed or forced to change position. Of course, children are very flexible and move around in their sleep quite a bit. Just because your child likes to sleep with his bottom stuck up in the air, it doesn't mean he has sleep apnea! But if he has other symptoms of this condition as well, a trip to the doctor would be highly recommended.


• Behavioral problems/difficulties
  Too little sleep can lead to all sorts of 'misbehavior' including issues such as hyper-activity, excessive daytime sleepiness, discipline problems, aggression, depression, poor concentration and more. These are pretty much the same as the results of sleep deprivation in adults.


• Heart problems
  

  The strain that sleep apnea puts on circulatory system may cause heart problems or blood pressure issues. This is pretty rare in children, but can occur more often as one of the symptoms of sleep apnea in adults.

Treating Sleep Apnea in children

For many children with sleep apnea, a straightforward surgery to remove their enlarged tonsils/adenoids takes care of the problem. This is the most common cause sleep apnea in children and, luckily, the treatment is simple.

If other cranio-facial problems are the cause of this sleep disorder, there may be surgical or non-invasive treatment options.

Allergies can be treated with anti-histamines and other appropriate medications, as can recurring upper respiratory tract infections.

If none of these solutions are appropriate, your health professional may prescribe CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). This treatment involves providing your child with a continuous flow of air into his lungs at night. This keeps the airways open and his breathing regular. It's actually quite a simple machine, and is usually a very effective treatment for childhood sleep apnea.

CPAP is also the most commonly prescribed, and effective, treatment for sleep apnea in adults.

So.....

Although sleep apnea in children can lead to some serious problems, it is very treatable!

Once a diagnosis of childhood sleep apnea has been made by a health professional, treatment can generally alleviate/eliminate both the underlying problem, the symptoms and any 'knock-on' effects.

A child who isn't sleeping well needs help... and so do his parents, so it's important to act quickly. Early diagnosis is the key!

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