Sleep is central to a child’s physical and mental development, affecting everything from learning ability to emotional regulation. But breathing irregularities during sleep, a condition known as sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), can have a detrimental effect on your younger one's health and well-being.

What is Pediatric Sleep Disordered Breathing?

Pediatric sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) refers to a group of conditions that causes abnormal breathing patterns in kids during sleep. Your child can have difficulty breathing at night if something blocks his airflow, causing the oxygen levels in his body to fall and triggering his brain to wake and breathe. 

Although it might happen for a few seconds at a time, sometimes, it can occur multiple times when sleeping. If left untreated for long, it can cause many behavioural and health complications in your younger one, such as heart disease or lung problems.

Types of Pediatric Sleep-Disordered Breathing among Children

Pediatric sleep-disordered breathing can take many different forms, from mild disruptions, such as snoring, to more severe conditions, like child sleep apnea:

Snoring | This is the mildest form of SDB, where your child makes noise while breathing during the sleep cycle. It occurs as a result of a partial obstruction in his airway. While there is no problem with occasional snoring, chronic snoring can be a sign of more serious underlying conditions.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) | The most common type of sleep apnea, OSA, occurs when the back of the nose or throat gets completely or partially blocked during sleep. This results in periods of no breathing (apnea) or shallow breathing (hypopnea), leading to frequent awakenings during your child’s sleep cycle.
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) | A rare sleep-disordered breathing condition common in infants, CSA happens when the part of your child’s brain in charge of sending signals to the muscles that control breathing doesn’t work properly.
Mixed Sleep Apnea | The combination of two types of sleep apnea that characterise this disorder are central and obstructive.

What Causes Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Children?

Your kid can suffer from sleep-disordered breathing due to the following causes of sleep apnea: 

• Enlarged tonsils and adenoids: If your kid has enlarged tonsils or adenoids, it can block his airway during sleep.
• Facial or structural abnormalities: Conditions like a deviated septum, cleft palate, or other craniofacial abnormalities can make it difficult for your child to breathe when sleeping. 
• Obesity: Excess body weight can cause fatty deposits around your younger one’s upper airway, making it more likely to collapse during sleep. It’s more likely to happen in older children.
• Allergies or asthma: Allergies or asthma can cause chronic nasal congestion, which can further contribute to airway obstruction, leading to difficulty breathing at night.
• Premature birth: Premature infants can potentially have underdeveloped airways or weak respiratory muscles, making them more susceptible to sleep-disordered breathing.
• Neuromuscular disorders: Children with neuromuscular conditions, such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, are more prone to sleep-disordered breathing. It’s because these conditions weaken their breathing-controlling muscles.

Symptoms of Pediatric Sleep Disordered Breathing

• Loud or persistent snoring
• Breathing through the mouth only
• Pauses in breathing
• Gasping or choking sounds
• Bedwetting
• Restless sleep
• Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
• Having related problems, like low oxygen or slow heartbeat
• Behavioral issues like attention deficits, hyperactivity, or irritability
• Unusual sleeping positions
• Difficulty to wake in the morning 

How is Sleep Disordered Breathing Diagnosed in Children?

Do you suspect your child to have any breathing-related sleep disorder? Instead of ignoring it, visit a doctor immediately because issues like sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) can cause neurological and cardiovascular issues later on. 

To diagnose SDB, the paediatrician will first ask your child to undergo a thorough medical history and physical examination. He will enquire about the child's sleep patterns, any noticed breathing pauses, snoring, restless nights, and family history of sleep apnea. Also, a physical examination will be performed, paying particular attention to your child's throat and airway to look for any potential obstructions, such as enlarged tonsils.

If SDB is suspected, your paediatrician might recommend polysomnography, a home sleep apnea test (HSAT), or imaging tests to track your younger one’s sleep patterns and visualise structural issues in his airway.

Treatment for Sleep Disordered Breathing

Although rare in kids, sleep disordered breathing disorders can be life-threatening. Your paediatrician might recommend the following treatment options for your kid depending on his condition and symptoms: 

• Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy: If your kid’s condition is worse, the doctor might suggest surgical removal of his tonsils and adenoids for obstructive sleep apnea caused by enlarged tissues.
• Weight management: For children whose SDB has occurred due to excess weight, losing it can help improve symptoms significantly.
• Allergy management: You can treat your kid’s underlying allergies with medications like antihistamines or nasal sprays to help relieve nasal congestion and improve their breathing.
• Continuous positive airway pressure: If surgery is not effective or the right treatment for your child, you can use CPAP therapy to keep his airway open when sleeping by delivering a constant stream of air through a mask.
• Lifestyle changes: Encourage healthy sleep hygiene for your kid. Ask him to maintain a regular bedtime routine and ensure he sleeps in a well-ventilated room to improve his sleep quality.

Conclusion:

Sleep-disordered breathing, from sleep apnea to snoring, can deteriorate sleep quality, affecting your child’s growth, development, and behaviour. So, you shouldn’t ignore it when your kid complains about not getting adequate or restful sleep or struggling to breathe when sleeping. Instead, schedule an appointment with a Medanta paediatrician. He will diagnose your kid for SDB and suggest the appropriate treatment in case of any symptoms.