Jul 27, 2009 6:56 pm US/Eastern
HealthWatch: Treating Sleep Apnea In Children
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
We often think of sleep apnea as affecting primarily overweight adults, but a large number of children are suffering with the breathing disorder, leading to problems both at school and at home.
Now, research shows that taking out the tonsils can help those children sleep peacefully.
One mother, who asked to be identified only as Kim, has two boys who had difficulty breathing at night. Snoring would wake them up, making them tired during the day.
"He would stop breathing during his sleep," Kim said.
Like his brother Andrew, 7-year-old Will had enlarged tonsils that blocked his airflow. Then doctors removed his tonsils, improving his sleep immediately.
Now, a new study shows that removing the tonsils and adenoid glands helps in the long-term as well.
"The majority of improvement continued even two-and-a-half years after surgery, and I suspect when they do the next study at five years it will continue," Dr. Max April, of New York Presbyterian Weill-Cornell Medical Center, said.
Pediatric sleep apnea is a relatively new problem. Prior to the 1980s, many kids had their tonsils removed because of infections. Now, because of better medicines, more kids have kept their tonsils, yet 11 percent of American children have trouble sleeping at night.
"The hallmark is snoring," Dr. April said.
Snoring is the key sign that the tonsils and adenoids are to blame, clogging breathing passages. Doctors warn that hyperactivity, or ADHD, can be a byproduct of sleep apnea, but it's not a symptom.
Will is already doing better in school, and Andrew has had long-term success.
"My older son had it done seven years ago, and he's doing just as well now," Kim said.
And any mom will breathe a little easier when her boys get a good night's sleep.
Obstructive sleep apnea in children can cause a lot of complications, including poor growth, headaches, high blood pressure, and other heart and lung problems. If you notice snoring or daytime sleepiness in your child, make sure to mention it to your pediatrician.
An ear, nose, and throat specialist can often see the enlarged tonsils and adenoids with special equipment right in the office. If it can't be diagnosed that way, however, a sleep study can be done – even on children.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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