You love to peek in on your little one while they’re sleeping. They look so peaceful after a day filled with lots of activity. But you’ve also noticed that your child snores, and when you ask other parents if their children snore, they all say “no.”
Could your child’s snoring signal a health condition like sleep apnea? You’ve assumed that sleep apnea is a condition that only affects adults. Unfortunately, kids can be affected, too.
In Midtown, New York City, board-certified otolaryngologist Nilesh Patel, MD, treats pediatric and adult sleep apnea. If your child snores, here’s why you should consider bringing them in for a sleep apnea evaluation.
Getting enough oxygen when you’re breathing in is essential. Sleep apnea causes repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. When your child’s breathing is interrupted many times during the night as they sleep, they don’t get enough air.
The respiration pauses cause your child to gasp, choke, or cough as they take in a breath. Poor quality sleep is the result. Now, you have a tired, irritable child.
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to health complications. Your child could be at increased risk of high blood pressure and diabetes as they get older; in the near term, it can even affect their growth and development.
Once you hear your child snoring, it’s important to observe them closely while they sleep and look for any of the following:
Even night sweats and a return to bedwetting after a dry period can signal sleep apnea. Taken together, several co-existing warning signs may indicate that your child has sleep apnea.
You may wonder what the connection is between bedwetting and sleep apnea. If your child starts wetting the bed at night and you can hear them snoring, they may have sleep apnea — if other causes are ruled out.
When your child can’t get enough oxygen to the brain because of a partially blocked airway, their brain may not relay a signal of a full bladder. They may also be so tired from poor quality sleep that they fail to wake up to go to the bathroom.
Does your child often seem out of sorts for no good reason? Is school a challenge? Pediatric sleep apnea can result in the following behavioral and physical symptoms:
Your child’s sleepiness and crankiness may be the result of sleep apnea when other causes are ruled out. Once the problem is treated and they start getting a good night’s sleep again, you’ll likely see a positive change in their mood and energy.
If you suspect your child has sleep apnea, they should be examined by a board-certified otolaryngologist to see if their airway is partially blocked. Pediatric sleep apnea is usually caused by enlarged tonsils and/or enlarged adenoids.
Most childhood tonsillectomies used to be performed because of repeated throat infections. Today, up to 80% of tonsillectomies are done to treat pediatric sleep apnea.
If your child has Down syndrome or Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), they are likely already being treated for pediatric sleep apnea; a majority of children with these disorders have the condition due to a large tongue and a small airway.
Dr. Patel performs tonsillectomies and removes adenoids to remedy cases of sleep apnea. If your child doesn’t have enlarged soft tissue at the base of the throat, Dr. Patel may recommend a sleep study to uncover the underlying cause of their disordered breathing.
To learn more about pediatric sleep apnea, call Nilesh Patel, MD, in Midtown, New York City, today, or schedule an appointment online at your convenience.
