Does Your Child Snore?

check_icon Research-backed

Snoring can be a great indicator of when a child is asleep. It can also be endearing. It could pose as a serious problem, but not every child who snores, is in danger. One out of every five children snores from time to time, with almost half as many snoring on a regular basis (1). Only 2% of children snore severely which indicates a sleep or breathing problem.

When breathing is obstructed during sleep or the air passing through the mouth is blocked, snoring occurs. Any such obstuction can be detrimental, as it might mess with the natural flow of oxygen in the body. Such blockages can occur for a variety of reasons inluding allergies or respiratory infections such as cold or tonsillitis. Proper medication can alleviate these symptoms to avoid snoring altogether.

In This Article

What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS)

Image: Shutterstock

Snoring becomes problematic when it is a symptom of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). This is a condition wherein the airway collapses and the baby cannot breathe. Thus, it forces the baby to wake up to catch their breath. OSAS leads to poor quality sleep which could cause emotional problems, learning difficulties, and even headaches. When OSAS becomes chronic, it could cause heart problems, hypertension, or growth failure (2).

Having a large tonsil or large adenoids can obstruct the airway leading to breathing difficulties. Other factors that can cause OSAS are obesity, allergies, or asthma. Although gastroesophageal reflux has a strong association with OSAS (3) it hasn’t been established whether the reflux causes the apnea or the apnea causes the reflux.

How To Tell If Your Child Has Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Image: Shutterstock

Here are a few indicators that your child may have OSAS:

  • Has a peculiar sleeping position, either with the head resting on several pillows or off the bed altogether.
  • Stops breathing from time to time during the night, albeit only for short period.
  • Has behavioural issues. This could be anything ranging from trouble concentrating, being in a bad mood, aggression, or daydreaming.
  • Still wets the bed.
  • Doesn’t wake up easily, no matter how long they’ve been sleeping.
  • Sleeps restlessly, often accompanied by a lot of sweating.

If your child exhibits any of the above symptoms, make sure you consult a specialist for conducting a sleep study or polysomnography.

However, in case your child is diagnosed with OSAS, there are different treatment options.

Treating OSAS

1. Surgery

Surgery is usually the permanent cure for OSAS. Your child’s tonsils and adenoids are removed in a procedure called adenotonsillectomy (4). This will stop the snoring but in order to confirm that the OSAS has been cured, a second sleep study must be taken. If it hasn’t, OSAS could be due a structural problem with your child’s throat, face, or jaw. In such a case, a second surgery might be needed.

2. Positive Airway Pressure

Image: Shutterstock

Although it is predominantly a treatment used for adults, it works just as well with children. Positive Airway Pressure provides a steady stream of air into the nose by the use of a mask worn on the face. This ensures that the airway stays open throughout the night, preventing any pauses in breathing during sleep. Your child will definitely not snore with this mask on.

3. Lifestyle Change

As stated, above, obesity can be a major contributing factor to OSAS. A change in lifestyle by following a better diet and an exercise regimen will help your child lose those extra pounds.

If your child doesn’t seem to have OSAS, consider letting the snoring slide. It doesn’t necessarily have to be something that affects your child’s health, although it can certainly disturb your sleep. Instead of taking drastic measures for the occasional night of snoring, consider merely closing the door, confining the sounds of slumber from your little one’s room.

Was this article helpful?
thumbsupthumbsdown
The following two tabs change content below.