Sleep apnea causes short breaks in a child's normal breathing patterns during sleep. These breaks can last for 20 seconds or more. In serious cases, sleep apnea causes harm to a child's brain. The condition comes in two main forms: obstructive and central. Some children have elements of both types. Apnea in all forms occurs in up to 13 percent of 3- to 6-year-olds, according to the results of a study published in the March 2007 edition of the "American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine."
Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form in children. It involves blockage of the airways in the throat, usually by the tonsils. Tonsils might be flaccid and undeveloped in young children, so they can more easily block the throat. Symptoms include rasping and snoring noises while sleeping, often followed by gasps. Breathing in general might sound erratic or strained. Some children even put themselves into strange sleeping positions in an effort to make breathing easier, according to Kidshealth.org. In some cases, particularly with premature babies, children have underdeveloped sleep control regions of the brain. This causes central sleep apnea. This is rarer than obstructive apnea.
Causes
Obstructive sleep apnea in babies and toddlers is often linked to slow development of the tonsils and adenoids. Similarly, brain development issues trigger central sleep apnea. However, in older children obesity plays a significant role in the onset of sleep apnea. A 2007 paper featured in "American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine" suggests that obesity is "strongly associated" with sleep apnea in children older than 6 up to adolescence. Keeping your child's weight under control could help prevent sleep apnea.
Risks
In a 2006 study published in "PLoS Medicine," scientists conducted a test of 31 children between 6 and 16 years old. The group contained 19 children with obstructive sleep apnea and 12 with normal sleep patterns. They concluded that obstructive sleep apnea in children is linked with brain development problems and possibly lower IQ. The regular periods where the brain lacks oxygen may inhibit cognitive growth and development at critical stages.
Treatments
If your child has any form of sleep apnea he must see a doctor. Sometimes surgery is necessary to remove enlarged tonsils or other obstructions. In other cases, sleep therapy or the use of monitoring devices can help a child cope with the condition and gradually phase out the symptoms. In any case, if your child turns blue, struggles to breathe or shows signs of losing consciousness because of sleep apnea, call 911 immediately.
References
- Kidshealth.org: Sleep Apnea; July 2008
- "PLoS Medicine"; Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnea Associates With Neuropsychological Deficits and Neuronal Brain Injury; A.C. Halbower, et al.; August 2006
- "American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine"; Pediatric Sleep Apnea; Carolyn E. Levers-Landis, et al.; March 2007
