Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Sleep apnea in children most often occurs when the upper airway is obstructed during sleep by enlarged tonsils and adenoids. The obstruction causes the child to momentarily stop breathing several times throughout the night. The result is a lack of restful sleep which can lead to learning problems and developmental problems, behavior issues and in some cases, failure to grow, heart problems and high blood pressure. Because there are periods in which the child does not breathe, sleep apnea can be life-threatening.

Symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Snoring
• Restless sleep
• Open-mouth sleeping
• Irregular nighttime breathing
• Strange sleep positions, often with back and neck arched
• Bedwetting
• Nightmares or night terrors
• Morning headaches
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Extreme irritability
• Difficulty concentrating
• Depression
• Hyperactive behavior
• Enlarged tonsils and adenoids

Treatment

For many children with obstructive sleep apnea, the treatment and cure is to remove the tonsils and adenoids.