Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsIf UntreatedCauses and Risk FactorsDiagnosisTreatmentOutlook
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
If Untreated
Causes and Risk Factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
Outlook
Pediatric sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes breathing pauses during sleep. The two main types of sleep apnea in children are obstructive sleep apnea, which is the most common and typically involves snoring,and central sleep apnea, which happens when signals between the brain and muscles used to breathe don’t function properly.
The process for diagnosing sleep apnea in children differs slightly from that for adults. Because it’s estimated that between 1% and 5% of children age 2 to 8 develop obstructive sleep apnea, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children be screened for snoring at routine healthcare visits.
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Types of Sleep Apnea in Children
The maintypes of pediatric sleep apneainclude:
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea in Children
Sleep apnea in children can come with a variety of symptoms, such as:
Not all of these symptoms must be present for a child to be diagnosed with sleep apnea. In addition, children with sleep apnea are more prone to experiencing behavioral and growth issues, along withrestless sleepsymptoms, than adults with sleep apnea.
What Happens If Sleep Apnea Goes Untreated in Children?
Untreated sleep apnea means your child isn’t getting enough rest, and has low levels of oxygen in the body. These issues can affect growth, learning, and behavior.
If left untreated, pediatric sleep apnea can trigger health issues such as:
Some children may be more likely to develop a form of pediatric sleep apnea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Children who have or experience the following may be at a higher risk for having obstructive sleep apnea:
Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea in children tends to occur for different reasons than obstructive sleep apnea. For example, beingborn prematurely, having a neurological disorder, or being exposed tomedicationsthat suppress breathing (like opioids) can increase the chances of developing this type of pediatric sleep apnea.
Diagnosing Sleep Apnea in Children
Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that all children be screened for key sleep apnea symptoms likesnoringduring routine healthcare visits.
From there, diagnosing sleep apnea in children is slightly different from diagnosing it in adults. It starts with a medical history and a physical exam in which the healthcare provider checks the child’s throat, neck, and mouth. In addition, questions about daytime sleepiness and sleep habits will likely also be asked before any additional diagnostic tests are performed.
Sleep Study
While a child’s medical history and physical examination are helpful, they aren’t enough on their own to come to a sleep apnea diagnosis.This is why an overnight sleep study, known as a polysomnogram, is required to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea.
Diagnostic methods likesleep apnea testing done at homeor during a short nap are generallynotrecommended for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea in children.
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
An EKG can be useful in helping to diagnose and manage obstructive sleep apnea, as the condition has the potential to affect the cardiovascular system.
How Is Sleep Apnea in Children Treated?
Severaltreatment options for sleep apneaare available for children, depending on the individual circumstances and severity of the case.
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes can help mitigate sleep apnea symptoms. These include:
Nasal Steroids
Steroid nasal spray may be a helpful treatment for children with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
Some studies have suggested usingnasal sprayslike Flonase (fluticasone propionate)or Nasonex (mometasone furoate)may improve sleep-disordered breathing and reduce the frequency or severity of obstructive sleep apnea. This proved especially true in children with enlarged tonsils or adenoids.
Oral Appliances
Oral, or dental, appliances are another treatment option for older children with sleep apnea.
Surgery
Surgery to remove thetonsils and adenoids(known as adenotonsillectomy) is an effective first-line treatment for obstructive sleep apnea in children.
Additional surgical procedures may also help correct certain structural issues contributing to sleep apnea if needed. These tactics could involve:
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy
Acontinuous positive airway pressure (or CPAP)therapy device is another commonly recommended treatment option, particularly for children who do not find success with surgery or aren’t able to get their tonsils removed.
Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation Device (NIPPV)
Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (or NPPV)is a type of mechanical ventilation that can be used at home in severe cases. It helps the user to take a full breath and maintain an adequate supply of oxygen in the body while sleeping.
Because ventilation requires careful monitoring, this treatment tactic would likely only be recommended in severe pediatric sleep apnea cases.
Apnea Alarms
A home apnea alarm or monitor helps track breathing and other vital signs. It’s typically used for babies or people who are at severe risk of experiencing serious respiratory issues while sleeping.
What Is the Outlook for Children With Sleep Apnea?
A pediatricsleep apnea diagnosisshould be taken seriously. This sleep disorder can prevent children from getting the adequate rest that the body needs and is also linked to health complications like heart disease, along with behavioral and other developmental issues.
Withthe right treatment, sleep apnea symptoms in children can resolve.Early diagnosis—along with management and treatment—is key for maintaining overall health and minimizing the risk of developing complications.
Summary
Pediatric sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes breathing disturbances at night. Common symptoms in children manifest as snoring, restlessness, behavioral issues, and daytime sleepiness.
Diagnosis often requires an overnight sleep study and sometimes an electrocardiogram test. Recommended treatment options include lifestyle changes, surgery to address enlarged tonsils or other blockages, breathing devices, oral appliances, and nasal steroids.
It’s important to check with a healthcare provider if you think your child may be experiencing signs of sleep apnea, as this condition can lead to health complications if left untreated.
24 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Deshpande P, Salcedo B, Haq C.Common sleep disorders in children.Am Fam Physician.2022;105(2):168-176.Children’s Hospital Colorado.Central sleep apnea (CSA) in children.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is sleep apnea?.American Academy of Pediatrics.Sleep apnea in children: detection & treatment.Trosman I, Trosman SJ.Cognitive and behavioral consequences of sleep disordered breathing in children.Med Sci (Basel). 2017;5(4):30. doi:10.3390/medsci5040030National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Living with sleep apnea.MedlinePlus.Pediatric sleep apnea.MedlinePlus.Central sleep apnea.Yale Medicine.Pediatric sleep study.Ma Y et al.Electrocardiogram-based sleep analysis for sleep apnea screening and diagnosis.Sleep Breath. 2020;24(1):231-240. doi:10.1007/s11325-019-01874-8Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.What is an electrocardiogram (ECG)?.Yale Medicine.Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea.Kuvat N, Tanriverdi H, Armutcu F.The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and obesity: A new perspective on the pathogenesis in terms of organ crosstalk.The Clin Resp J. 2020;14(7):595-604. doi:10.1111/crj.13175Stavrou VT, Astara K, Tourlakopoulos KN, et al.Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: the effect of acute and chronic responses of exercise.Front Med (Lausanne). 2021;8:806924. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.806924Ravesloot M, Vonk P, Maurer J, Oksenberg A, de Vries N.Standardized framework to report on the role of sleeping position in sleep apnea patients.Sleep Breath. 2021;25(4):1717-1728. doi:10.1007/s11325-020-02255-2Duan H, Xia L, Lan Q.Efficacy and safety of fluticasone propionate nasal spray in treatment ofadenoidal hypertrophic snoring in children.Braz J Pharm Sci. 2022;58:e21052. doi:10.1590/s2175-97902022e21052Chan CC, Au CT, Lam HS, et al.Intranasal corticosteroids for mild childhood obstructive sleep apnea–a randomized, placebo-controlled study.Sleep Med. 2015;16(3):358-63. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2014.10.015National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Sleep apnea: treatment.Paglietti MG et al.Long term non-invasive ventilation in children with central hypoventilation.Front Pediatr. 2020;8:288. doi:10.3389/fped.2020.00288.MedlinePlus.Home apnea monitor use-infants.American Academy of Pediatrics.The truth about home apnea monitors for SIDs.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Key sleep disorders.Ter Heege FM, Mijnster T, van Veen MM, et al.The clinical relevance of early identification and treatment of sleep disorders in mental health care: protocol of a randomized control trial.BMC Psychiatry. 2020;20(1):331. doi:10.1186/s12888-020-02737-3Maurer JT.Early diagnosis of sleep related breathing disorders.GMS Curr Top Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2008;7:Doc03. Epub 2010 Oct 7.
24 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Deshpande P, Salcedo B, Haq C.Common sleep disorders in children.Am Fam Physician.2022;105(2):168-176.Children’s Hospital Colorado.Central sleep apnea (CSA) in children.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is sleep apnea?.American Academy of Pediatrics.Sleep apnea in children: detection & treatment.Trosman I, Trosman SJ.Cognitive and behavioral consequences of sleep disordered breathing in children.Med Sci (Basel). 2017;5(4):30. doi:10.3390/medsci5040030National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Living with sleep apnea.MedlinePlus.Pediatric sleep apnea.MedlinePlus.Central sleep apnea.Yale Medicine.Pediatric sleep study.Ma Y et al.Electrocardiogram-based sleep analysis for sleep apnea screening and diagnosis.Sleep Breath. 2020;24(1):231-240. doi:10.1007/s11325-019-01874-8Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.What is an electrocardiogram (ECG)?.Yale Medicine.Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea.Kuvat N, Tanriverdi H, Armutcu F.The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and obesity: A new perspective on the pathogenesis in terms of organ crosstalk.The Clin Resp J. 2020;14(7):595-604. doi:10.1111/crj.13175Stavrou VT, Astara K, Tourlakopoulos KN, et al.Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: the effect of acute and chronic responses of exercise.Front Med (Lausanne). 2021;8:806924. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.806924Ravesloot M, Vonk P, Maurer J, Oksenberg A, de Vries N.Standardized framework to report on the role of sleeping position in sleep apnea patients.Sleep Breath. 2021;25(4):1717-1728. doi:10.1007/s11325-020-02255-2Duan H, Xia L, Lan Q.Efficacy and safety of fluticasone propionate nasal spray in treatment ofadenoidal hypertrophic snoring in children.Braz J Pharm Sci. 2022;58:e21052. doi:10.1590/s2175-97902022e21052Chan CC, Au CT, Lam HS, et al.Intranasal corticosteroids for mild childhood obstructive sleep apnea–a randomized, placebo-controlled study.Sleep Med. 2015;16(3):358-63. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2014.10.015National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Sleep apnea: treatment.Paglietti MG et al.Long term non-invasive ventilation in children with central hypoventilation.Front Pediatr. 2020;8:288. doi:10.3389/fped.2020.00288.MedlinePlus.Home apnea monitor use-infants.American Academy of Pediatrics.The truth about home apnea monitors for SIDs.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Key sleep disorders.Ter Heege FM, Mijnster T, van Veen MM, et al.The clinical relevance of early identification and treatment of sleep disorders in mental health care: protocol of a randomized control trial.BMC Psychiatry. 2020;20(1):331. doi:10.1186/s12888-020-02737-3Maurer JT.Early diagnosis of sleep related breathing disorders.GMS Curr Top Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2008;7:Doc03. Epub 2010 Oct 7.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Deshpande P, Salcedo B, Haq C.Common sleep disorders in children.Am Fam Physician.2022;105(2):168-176.Children’s Hospital Colorado.Central sleep apnea (CSA) in children.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is sleep apnea?.American Academy of Pediatrics.Sleep apnea in children: detection & treatment.Trosman I, Trosman SJ.Cognitive and behavioral consequences of sleep disordered breathing in children.Med Sci (Basel). 2017;5(4):30. doi:10.3390/medsci5040030National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Living with sleep apnea.MedlinePlus.Pediatric sleep apnea.MedlinePlus.Central sleep apnea.Yale Medicine.Pediatric sleep study.Ma Y et al.Electrocardiogram-based sleep analysis for sleep apnea screening and diagnosis.Sleep Breath. 2020;24(1):231-240. doi:10.1007/s11325-019-01874-8Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.What is an electrocardiogram (ECG)?.Yale Medicine.Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea.Kuvat N, Tanriverdi H, Armutcu F.The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and obesity: A new perspective on the pathogenesis in terms of organ crosstalk.The Clin Resp J. 2020;14(7):595-604. doi:10.1111/crj.13175Stavrou VT, Astara K, Tourlakopoulos KN, et al.Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: the effect of acute and chronic responses of exercise.Front Med (Lausanne). 2021;8:806924. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.806924Ravesloot M, Vonk P, Maurer J, Oksenberg A, de Vries N.Standardized framework to report on the role of sleeping position in sleep apnea patients.Sleep Breath. 2021;25(4):1717-1728. doi:10.1007/s11325-020-02255-2Duan H, Xia L, Lan Q.Efficacy and safety of fluticasone propionate nasal spray in treatment ofadenoidal hypertrophic snoring in children.Braz J Pharm Sci. 2022;58:e21052. doi:10.1590/s2175-97902022e21052Chan CC, Au CT, Lam HS, et al.Intranasal corticosteroids for mild childhood obstructive sleep apnea–a randomized, placebo-controlled study.Sleep Med. 2015;16(3):358-63. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2014.10.015National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Sleep apnea: treatment.Paglietti MG et al.Long term non-invasive ventilation in children with central hypoventilation.Front Pediatr. 2020;8:288. doi:10.3389/fped.2020.00288.MedlinePlus.Home apnea monitor use-infants.American Academy of Pediatrics.The truth about home apnea monitors for SIDs.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Key sleep disorders.Ter Heege FM, Mijnster T, van Veen MM, et al.The clinical relevance of early identification and treatment of sleep disorders in mental health care: protocol of a randomized control trial.BMC Psychiatry. 2020;20(1):331. doi:10.1186/s12888-020-02737-3Maurer JT.Early diagnosis of sleep related breathing disorders.GMS Curr Top Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2008;7:Doc03. Epub 2010 Oct 7.
Deshpande P, Salcedo B, Haq C.Common sleep disorders in children.Am Fam Physician.2022;105(2):168-176.
Children’s Hospital Colorado.Central sleep apnea (CSA) in children.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is sleep apnea?.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Sleep apnea in children: detection & treatment.
Trosman I, Trosman SJ.Cognitive and behavioral consequences of sleep disordered breathing in children.Med Sci (Basel). 2017;5(4):30. doi:10.3390/medsci5040030
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Living with sleep apnea.
MedlinePlus.Pediatric sleep apnea.
MedlinePlus.Central sleep apnea.
Yale Medicine.Pediatric sleep study.
Ma Y et al.Electrocardiogram-based sleep analysis for sleep apnea screening and diagnosis.Sleep Breath. 2020;24(1):231-240. doi:10.1007/s11325-019-01874-8
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.What is an electrocardiogram (ECG)?.
Yale Medicine.Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea.
Kuvat N, Tanriverdi H, Armutcu F.The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and obesity: A new perspective on the pathogenesis in terms of organ crosstalk.The Clin Resp J. 2020;14(7):595-604. doi:10.1111/crj.13175
Stavrou VT, Astara K, Tourlakopoulos KN, et al.Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: the effect of acute and chronic responses of exercise.Front Med (Lausanne). 2021;8:806924. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.806924
Ravesloot M, Vonk P, Maurer J, Oksenberg A, de Vries N.Standardized framework to report on the role of sleeping position in sleep apnea patients.Sleep Breath. 2021;25(4):1717-1728. doi:10.1007/s11325-020-02255-2
Duan H, Xia L, Lan Q.Efficacy and safety of fluticasone propionate nasal spray in treatment ofadenoidal hypertrophic snoring in children.Braz J Pharm Sci. 2022;58:e21052. doi:10.1590/s2175-97902022e21052
Chan CC, Au CT, Lam HS, et al.Intranasal corticosteroids for mild childhood obstructive sleep apnea–a randomized, placebo-controlled study.Sleep Med. 2015;16(3):358-63. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2014.10.015
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Sleep apnea: treatment.
Paglietti MG et al.Long term non-invasive ventilation in children with central hypoventilation.Front Pediatr. 2020;8:288. doi:10.3389/fped.2020.00288.
MedlinePlus.Home apnea monitor use-infants.
American Academy of Pediatrics.The truth about home apnea monitors for SIDs.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Key sleep disorders.
Ter Heege FM, Mijnster T, van Veen MM, et al.The clinical relevance of early identification and treatment of sleep disorders in mental health care: protocol of a randomized control trial.BMC Psychiatry. 2020;20(1):331. doi:10.1186/s12888-020-02737-3
Maurer JT.Early diagnosis of sleep related breathing disorders.GMS Curr Top Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2008;7:Doc03. Epub 2010 Oct 7.
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