Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis.  2006 Jun;16(2):102-113.

Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

• Kim SW
• Kim MJ

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS) is a frequent, but underdiagnosed problem in children. If it is left untreated, OSAS may lead to substantial morbidities affecting multiple target organs and systems. The immediate consequences of OSAS in children include behavioral disturbance and learning deficits, pulmonary hypertension, as well as compromised somatic growth. If it is not treated promptly and early in the course of the disease, OSAS may also impose long term adverse effect on neurocognitive and cardiovascular function. Therefore, all children is recommended to be screened for snoring and/or sleep apnea. Diagnostic evaluation, such as polysomnography, is useful and gold standard in discriminating between primary snoring and OSAS. Adenotosillectomy is the fist line of treatment for most children, otherwise continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP) is the first line of treatment in adults. CPAP is an option for those who are not candidates for surgery or do not respond to surgery. High risk patients should be monitored postoperatively. And patients with OSAS should be reevaluated postoperatively to determine whether additional treatment is required.

Keyword

Children; Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

MeSH Terms

Adult
Child
Humans
Hypertension, Pulmonary
Learning
Polysomnography
Sleep Apnea Syndromes
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive*
Snoring