Doctors Answers (4)
Sleep apnea is dangerous for children as well as adults. You should pro actively have your son evaluated by a Board Certified Sleep Specialist. Sleep apnea is familial and although your son is young, untreated sleep apnea could cause health risk for him also.
Children can have sleep apnea or other sleep disorders. An evaluation by your pediatrician and referral to a sleep center for a sleep evaluation would be best if you are concerned about your child.
Yes children can have sleep apnea too. Usually it is due to large tonsils and surgery can cure it 99% of the time. If obesity is present in a child, then surgery may not cure the apnea but weight loss combined with surgery mostly likely will. The child should have an evaluation by a Board Certified Sleep Specialist, an over night sleep test, then be seen by an ENT surgeon or an Oral Surgeon if the palate needs expansion.
Typically secondary to large tonsils and adenoids unless the child is obese or there are craniofacial abnormalities such as in Trisomy 21 and other syndromic genetic conditions. Treatment is typically tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. There is no female/male difference. Children are not typically obese. The best determination of sleep apnea is snoring and not being refreshed in the morning, restless sleep, possibly morning headaches, daytime behavioral difficulties, ADHD type symptoms and bed wetting, especially if they have been previously trained.
