Cause of Sleep Apnea In Children

cause of sleep apnea

Disordered breathing like obstructive apnea can occur in children also as in adults. An estimated three to 12 percent of youngsters snore, and one to 10 percent of youngsters suffer from obstructive apnea . most youngsters with apnea experience relatively mild symptoms and may outgrow the condition, but others are in danger for complications like cardiopulmonary disease, behavioral problems, and failure to thrive.

Sleep apnea is marked by pauses in breathing during sleep, and therefore the condition often involves snoring, gasping, or choking because the person struggles to breathe during these episodes. generally , apnea in children is caused by the enlargement of the adenoids or tonsils. This disorder can occur even in newborns and should create long-term health concerns if not treated. An enlarged tongue can also contribute to long-term snoring and apnea in children.

Another increasingly common explanation for obstructive apnea in children is obesity. Children who are overweight or obese can have sleep-apnea-related breathing problems due to fat deposits within the neck and throat that narrow their airways. Alternatively, existing health conditions like mongolism , a birth defect , and spastic paralysis can create abnormalities within the tongue and jaw or may cause neuromuscular deficits, which can cause apnea and other breathing issues.

Sleep apnea in children is commonest between ages three and 6 , when adenoids and tonsils are at their largest in reference to child-size airways. a toddler who snores chronically should be examined by a doctor or an otolaryngologist. He or she may suggest weight loss to scale back fat deposits or surgery to get rid of the enlarged tonsils or adenoids. for youngsters who aren't candidates for surgery or who experience persistent snoring even after surgery, doctors recommend wearing a sleep mask for a minimum of three hours an evening to scale back symptoms and promote healthy breathing.