Some Critical Facts About Sleep Apnea In Children You Should Be Aware Of
Sleep apnea in children is very common though much more difficult to recognize or diagnose. In adults there are some given traits that point towards the possibility that they could be patients of this affliction which are harder to find in children. Nonetheless, careful observation at home and thorough medical evaluation could result in the correct diagnosis.
It Is Not Easy To Diagnose Sleep Apnea In Children
Some of the signs that help with the diagnosis of sleep apnea in children are, (1) loud snoring,(2) breathing through open mouth on a regular basis when asleep, (3) visibly enlarged adenoids and tonsils, (4) constant sleepiness during the day time, (5) problematic behavior such as sudden aggressiveness, inattentiveness, restlessness, etc.
Is your child suffering from any of the above symptoms? If yes, do not hesitate to immediately take the child to an ENT specialist for careful evaluation. In case of doubt, the doctor might ask you to carry out a test called polysomnography which would be very helpful in zeroing on the correct diagnosis.
Sleep apnea in children is very dangerous; in fact it can be fatal. Hence, in case you have the slightest doubt that your child is suffering from such a problem, keep the child under very close observation until you could refer him or her to a good doctor.
The Treatment For The Sleep Apnea In Children
Is your child overweight? This could be one of the main factors that contribute to the sleep apnea condition. Ensure that you take measures to have the child's weight reduced. The sleep apnea in children could also be triggered by allergies - so keep a close watch on what it could be that provokes allergies in the child. If you identify the factor, ensure that it is removed from the vicinity of the child.
Another factor that leads to this problem in children is the highly enlarged adenoids and tonsils. If these are found to perpetuate the condition, it would be advisable to have these surgically removed. These medical interventions are termed as tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy or as commonly known T&A.
The good news here is that though it is a little difficult to diagnose immediately the sleep apnea condition with children, once it diagnosed the treatment is swift and sure. The child would be back to normal in a matter of days provided there are no complications or undue infections. Overall it is easier to cure this problem from children than adults.
