What is sleep apnea and how is it diagnosed in children?
Sleep apnea is any period of time where ther is no breathing while asleep. Usuly the time period is a minimum 10 seconds. The most common kind of sleep apnea is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome. It is characterized by repetitive episodes of upper airway obstruction that occur during sleep, usually associated with a reduction in blood oxygen saturation. symptoms: excessive daytime sleepiness frequent episodes of obstructed breathing during sleep. (The patient may be unaware of this symptom — usually the parents are extremely aware of this). Associated features may include: snoring – loud, squeaky, raspy nocturnal snorting, gasping, choking (may wake self up) restless sleep heavy irregular breathing excessive perspiring during sleep severe bedwetting bad dreams (nightmares) night terrors sleeps with mouth open, causing a dry mouth upon awakening chest retraction during sleep in young children (chest pulls in) sleeps in strange positions confusion upon awakening morning headaches
