Snoring in Children: Could Be a Sign of Sleep Disorder

Snoring in Children: Could Be a Sign of Sleep Disorder

          Many parents may adore a small snoring noise of their children, but this lovely common condition may cause children to experience pauses in breathing while asleep. Dr.Chula Kooanantkul, Pediatric Pulmonologist at Vejthani Hospital explained that snoring and difficulty of breathing in children is associated with serious problems such as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

Sleeping time should be the most relaxed and peaceful moment for children, but with the mentioned symptoms, children’s sleep maybe disturbed by obstructive breathing disorder that causes the feeling of blockage in the airway during the night. During an apneic episode, the heart and lungs work harder which also cause mypertension (high blood pressure) and heart disease in the young.

Diagnosing Sleeping Disorder in Children

After asking the medical history, pediatric specialists then perform few tests looking for further abnormalities such as enlarged tonsil and adenoids before ordering the Polysomnography, a sleep study that is done while fully the child is asleep to help identify any sleep disorders. It is a specialized way to monitor body functions during sleep which includes oxygen level tracking, brain waves diagnosis, heart rhythm, and over 20 tests during one-night-sleep at the hospital.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea

Mild sleep disorder symptoms can be treated by medication but in moderate-to-severe patients with complicated symptoms, they may no longer respond to medical treatment. Hence, it might be necessary to perform surgery. The surgical procedure is quite simple, low chance of complication risk and only requires 2-3 days of recovery.

Moreover, snoring in children may seem common, but ignoring it can develop life threatening conditions to them. Thus, it is better to be aware of your children sleeping condition and consult with your pediatrician if any abnormality is found.