Do children have sleep apnoea?
It turns out that, in addition to obese adults, children are also at risk of developing paediatric sleep apnoea. According to local research, 5.8% of boys and 3.8 of girls are at risk of developing paediatric sleep apnoea to varying degrees, and there is a gradual upward trend in the incidence of sleep apnoea among children.
Causes of childhood sleep apnoea
Snoring is primarily caused by an obstruction in the upper airway during sleep. In children, snoring is most often due to allergic rhinitis, a condition affecting about 40% of children in Hong Kong. Secondly, enlarged tonsils or adenoids can obstruct the upper airway. Finally, obesity is another factor.
If children have the above problems, their chances of suffering from sleep apnoea are greatly increased.
What impact does it have on children?
Children's growth hormone is generally secreted during sleep. If sleep quality is affected, growth hormone secretion often decreases, inhibiting children's normal growth and development. Therefore, we find that some children with sleep apnoea have inhibited growth. Generally, they are shorter and their development is slower.
Furthermore, sleep apnoea can lead to a decrease in children's blood oxygen levels during sleep, causing temporary oxygen deprivation to the brain. When the brain lacks oxygen, it can significantly affect a child's brain development, and in the future, it can impact their ability to learn in school. It's important to remember that childhood is a prime period for acquiring knowledge. If their emotional and intellectual development is hindered, it may affect their future learning and communication skills, and even their interpersonal relationships.
Diagnosis
Children's symptoms are usually most noticeable between the ages of 2 and 8. In addition to loud snoring during sleep, parents can observe whether the child frequently sleeps on their stomach or has brief pauses in breathing during sleep, and even wetting the bed beyond the age of five.
There is research suggesting that children with ADHD have attention deficit andADHD,This is likely due to a long-term lack of healthy sleep
When examining a patient, doctors need to consider various factors, including a child's medical history and symptoms. They may also use questionnaires for children and, in some cases, a sleep study might be required.
Treatment
With regard to treatment, if a child has mild sleep apnoea, we will consider using medication.
Most children with sleep apnoea can be treated with tonsil and adenoid removal surgery. However, we must consider that some children may not be suitable for surgery, or if their sleep apnoea is more severe, long-term positive airway pressure ventilation may need to be considered.
Parents suspect their child may have sleep apnoea and are advised to seek paediatrician consultation as soon as possible.
