Childhood Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Snoring, trouble sleeping, bedwetting, ADHD, and Behavior Problems
Sleep apnea affects children as well as adults, causing symptoms ranging from snoring, bedwetting and trouble sleeping to hyperactivity and ADHD-like behavior problems.
Childhood sleep apnea is more common than many people think. Although usually associated with adults, obstructive sleep apnea affects up to three percent of preschoolers. Childhood sleep apnea can cause ADHD-like symptoms, hyperactivity, and personality changes. In worst case scenarios, childhood sleep apnea can be life-threatening.
Any child can develop sleep apnea, but some ethnic groups appear to be at greater risk of apneas. African American children are three and a half time more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea than Caucasian children. Boys and girls are equally likely to develop childhood sleep apnea, although by adulthood men are two times more likely than women to develop obstructive sleep apnea.
Causes and Treatment of Childhood Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea in children can result from conditions similar to adult sleep apnea causes, including obesity, physical abnormalities, and, in the case of central sleep apnea, neurological problems. In many cases, childhood sleep apnea treatment is identical to adult sleep apnea treatment options.
For many children, however, symptoms of sleep apnea result from enlarged tonsils or adenoids. Surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids (an adenotonsillectomy) is often the only treatment needed to resolve obstructive sleep apnea in children. A CPAP machine may also be used to relieve childhood sleep apnea symptoms.
Apnea of Prematurity
Infants and newborns can develop sleep apnea. When sleep apnea develops in infants under a year of age, it is referred to as apnea of infancy. Most cases of infant apnea go away as the child continues to grow.
Apnea of prematurity is a more serious form of childhood sleep apnea that can affect premature babies born before 34 weeks of gestation. A premature infant's respiratory system is often immature, as the brain has not developed enough to regulate breathing.
Treatment for apnea of prematurity (AOP) includes oxygen supplementation, use of a CPAP machine to keep the airways open, and medication to help the respiratory system mature as fast as possible. Caregivers should ensure the baby sleeps on his or her back, and that the child's neck and head are kept straight.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea in Children
Symptoms of sleep apnea in children can be similar to signs of sleep apnea in adults. Children, however, can display other symptoms of sleep apnea. While most children with sleep apnea will be drowsy and sleepy during the day, trouble sleeping leave some kids become hyperactive or exhibiting signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
ADHD-like sleep apnea symptoms may lead to a misdiagnosis of ADHD or hyperactivity in children when sleep disturbances are actually the cause. Recent studies suggest that severe sleep apnea can cause brain damage in areas of the brain responsible for memory, learning and attention.
In addition to symptoms seen in adults such as hypertension and depression, childhood sleep apnea symptoms can also include:
- A "pulling in" of the chest when breathing
- Confusion when awakened
- Developmental delays
- Excessive sweating while asleep
- Failure to grow at normal rates
- Frequent bedwetting
- High rates of upper respiratory infections
- Hyperactivity and symptoms of ADHD
- Learning difficulties
- Morning headaches
- Nightmares and night terrors
- Personality changes
- Unusual "arched" sleeping positions.
Apparent Life-Threatening Event (ALTE)
An ALTE, or Apparent Life-Threatening Event, is a serious sleep apnea complication that affects some children with sleep apnea. During an ALTE the child can choke or gag. Muscle tone may change and the lips or face may turn blue due to oxygen deprivation (a condition known as cyanosis). An apparent life-threatening event is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical intervention.
Although an ALTE involves apnea, or cessation in breathing, the condition is not necessarily caused by sleep apnea. Infant GERD can cause an ALTE, as can infections and other medical conditions. a child may experience multiple apparent life-threatening events, or may have a single ALTE and never experience another. Either way, immediate medical attention is always required for an ALTE.
Disclaimer: The information contained within this article is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute in any way for care and treatment by a qualified health professional.
Resources:
Nemours Foundation. (reviewed May 2004). Apnea.
Stanford University. (updated 24 March 1999). Childhood Sleep Apnea.
Steffan, M. (updated 17 May 2006). Sleep Apnea.
