Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children

Typical symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) include:

• Difficulty in breathing during sleep
• Restless sleep
• Frequent awakenings
• Bedwetting
• Daytime sleepiness
• Irritability and aggressiveness
• Impaired cognitive function
• Poor school performance

The most common treatment for OSA is the removal of the tonsils and adenoids. Young children, those with neurological abnormalities and those with severe OSA are prone to postoperative complications and are usually observed in our step-down unit following surgery.

At Comer Children's, staff monitor patients very closely so they can detect any respiratory problems and resolve them quickly. Our pediatric otolaryngologists offer the best care for even the most complicated cases of OSA.

Pediatric polysomnography is an overnight sleep study which record brain waves, nasal flow, chest/abdominal movement, oxygen level, heart rate, carbon dioxide level and legs movement with video monitoring.

Your child will spend the night in the sleep center. An overnight technician will place sensors in different areas of the body including the head, chin, around the eyes, and legs. A belt with be placed in the child chest and stomach. One parent or guardian can stay with the child to get the study.

Depending on the severity of the sleep apnea seen on the polysomnogram, treatment options may include medications, surgery, position therapy, and continuous pressure airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.

Because enlarged adenoid and tonsils are known to commonly cause obstructive sleep apnea in children, removal of the adenoid and tonsil has shown to treat and improve obstructive sleep apnea. However, children with structural or facial features that are associate with OSA, other surgical options may be consider such as rapid maxillary expansion and mandibular distraction osteogenesis.

CPAP provides a continuous pressure through a tight fitted face mask from a machine which keeps the airway opens while yourchild is sleeping. CPAP would be used when surgery cannot adequately treat the obstructive sleep apnea. Your child will undergo an overnight study assess for an optimal pressure setting to treat their sleep apnea.