Snoring in children during sleep is quite common, with about 10 to 15 out of every 100 children experiencing persistent snoring. However, one in every four children with persistent snoring suffers from paediatric sleep apnoea. The main cause is the obstruction of the upper airway during sleep, preventing air from passing smoothly through the respiratory tract, leading to apnoea. This is commonly seen in children with enlarged tonsils, obesity, a small jaw, short neck, and severe nasal allergies. Children with sleep apnoea, unlike adults, do not typically experience significant daytime sleepiness. Nevertheless, due to the impact on sleep quality, they often suffer from attention deficits, learning difficulties, and behavioural problems. If you are concerned about your child's sleep issues, a sleep test can be arranged to determine if they have sleep apnoea.
Overnight sleep test
Overnight sleep tests can accurately detect and assess the severity of sleep apnoea in children. Children of any age can undergo this test. The child will need to stay in hospital overnight, and devices will be attached to their head and body to record data such as brain waves, breathing, ECG, and blood oxygen saturation. The test is not harmful in any way.
Dr. Chan Yan Wing, Paediatrician
