Apnea

Everyone has brief pauses in their breathing pattern. Usually these brief stops are completely normal.

Sometimes, though, there are longer pauses in breathing known as apnea, and these pauses often occur during phases of snoring. If a child has such pauses, oxygen levels in the body may decrease temporarily and sleep will be disrupted.

There are several different types of apnea in children:

• Obstructive sleep apnea. The most common type, obstructive apnea is caused by a blockage of the airway (for example, by enlarged tonsils and adenoids). This is most likely to happen during sleep as the throat muscles relax. As many as 1% to 3% of preschoolers develop obstructive sleep apnea.
• Central apnea. When the part of the brain that controls breathing doesn't start or maintain the breathing process properly, it's called central apnea. This is most common in very premature infants in whom the brain’s respiratory center is immature.
• Mixed apnea. Mixed apnea is a combination of central and obstructive apnea and is usually a sign of an immature breathing pattern. Mixed apnea may occur when a child is awake or asleep.

How Is It Diagnosed?

At your child’s first visit with us, the doctor will take a complete medical history and perform a thorough physical exam. Many cases of obstructive sleep apnea can be diagnosed based on your child’s symptoms and physical findings. However, central apnea and mixed apnea – and some cases of obstructive sleep apnea – will require a sleep study. A sleep study (also called polysomnography) is an overnight study done in our sleep center during which the quantity, quality, and breathing patterns of your child’s sleep are measured.

How Is It Treated?

Treatment for sleep apnea depends on its cause. Medical conditions like nasal congestion and allergies may require medications. Overweight children may need to change their eating habits and become more active to attain a healthier weight. Some kids, however, will require continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) during sleep. This treatment uses a nasal and/or mouth mask and forced air to send air into the air passages and lungs. In some cases surgery may be necessary to remove large tonsils and adenoid tissue that make your child’s breathing difficult.

Because our team believes in a collaborative approach to your child’s care, we often work closely with specialists from other medical areas – such as Neurological Health, Lung and Respiratory Care, Surgical Services, and Behavioral Health – to give your child the best possible course of treatment.