Sleep Med Psychophysiol.  2005 Dec;12(2):98-104.

Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

• Lee SH
• Choi JH

Abstract

Approximately 1% to 3% of all children have obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). OSAS in children can lead to a variety of symptoms and sequalae; impairment of development and quality of life, behavioral and personality disturbance, learning problem, cor pulmonale and hypertension. Diagnosis and treatment of OASA for children are different from those for adults in many respects. Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is major cause of childhood OSAS. Overnight polysomnography in a sleep laboratory is the gold standard for diagnosing childhood OSAS. However, because full polysomnography in children may be difficult to obtain, expensive, and inconvenient, other methods to diagnose OSAS have been investigated. Adenotonsillectomy is the most common surgical treatment of childhood OSAS. But if residual symptoms remained after adenotonsillectomy, it should be considered to additional treatment such as weight control, sleep positional change, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

Keyword

Child; Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome; Tonsil; Adenoids

MeSH Terms

Adenoids
Adult
Child
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
Diagnosis
Humans
Hypertension
Hypertrophy
Learning Disorders
Palatine Tonsil
Polysomnography
Pulmonary Heart Disease
Quality of Life
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive*