Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnea

• Main Authors: R Dayal, Pankaj Kumar, Neha Garg
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2014-03-01
• Series: Annals of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (India)
• Online Access: http://annals-nams.in/index.php/annals/article/view/6

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition in childhood and can result in<br />severe complications if left untreated. It is showing a rising trend in India. A significant<br />association with obesity has been observed; however, some children with enlarged<br />tonsils and/or adenoids may even be underweight. The patient usually presents with<br />snoring and other respiratory problems like mouth breathing, choking and gasping<br />episodes in night. Poor school performance and neurocognitive deficits have been<br />reported. Pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale are seen in severe cases. Besides<br />the history and clinical examination, for definitive diagnosis an overnight<br />polysomnographic evaluation is the gold standard. In all cases, the specific treatment<br />ranges from simple lifestyle modifications and medications to surgeries like<br />adenotonsillectomy. Early diagnosis is vital.<br />Key words: Childhood OSA, Obesity, adenotonsillar hypertrophy