“ Interestingly , kids only need a single apnea event in a night to be diagnosed with sleep apnea ( adults require a minimum of five events per hour ). Children have proportionally smaller airways than adults , so enlarged tonsils and adenoids in young children is a worse relative problem .”
( adults require a minimum of five events per hour ).
TREATMENT options :
Adenotonsillectomy ( T & A )
CPAP ( Continuous Positive Airway Pressure )
Rapid Palatal Expansion ( RPE ) Weight management Allergy testing
Children have proportionally smaller airways than adults , so enlarged tonsils and adenoids in young children is a worse relative problem . Lymphoid tissue reaches its peak at ages 2-6 years .
The success rate of T & A surgery varies from about 50 % to 90 % in literature , but it remains a first line of therapy for kids under 10 who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea .
Last year , 400,000 T & A surgeries were done in the US , and 75 % of them were done for sleep apnea reasons . Calculating conservatively , only half these kids will be cured , so a follow up sleep study may be warranted , especially if symptoms persist , and other treatments should be considered .
CPAP may also be used , and should be discussed with the patient .
Every child should be evaluated for airway issues , and orthodontic intervention should be discussed and referred out as needed . Very often , expanding a palate or growing a lower jaw may prevent that kid from someday ending up in my consultation room talking about sleep apnea .
Weight management . We ’ re all getting fatter , adults and kids alike . Sleep deprivation and disrupted sleep plays with our brains and our stomachs . Kids who are sleep deprived will crave high carbohydrate foods , and we all know what too many carbs means .
Allergens often cause respiratory issues and congestion , and consideration should be given to removing common causes : stuffed animals , pets , certain fabrics , foods , and everything else that floats in the air from time to time .
SUMMARY
• Help your young patients breathe better and sleep better
• Ask questions about snoring and behavior
• Evaluate the airway and point them in the right direction
• Find a pediatric sleep specialist and a good ENT surgeon