Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

What is pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?

Obstructive sleep apena (OSA) is a sleep  disorder that causes children and adults to frequently pause their breathing during sleep. Breathing pauses (apneas) typically last 10 to 20 seconds and are caused by an obstruction in a child’s throat (usually enlarged adenoids or tonsils). 

The pauses temporarily decrease the body’s oxygen levels. The brain senses the lower oxygen levels as a threat and “jump starts” the body again by waking up the sleeping child. The more frequent the pauses, the less sleep a child gets, which can lead to additional physical and mental health symptoms.

What are the signs and symptoms of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?

The main symptom of OSA is the pause in breathing. Children may sound like they are choking or gasping when they are asleep. They can also have difficulty staying asleep, which can cause extreme daytime tiredness and may also lead to other sleep disorders.

Additional symptoms for OSA may vary and come and go, including the following:

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – A chronic condition that impacts a child’s attention span, hyperactivity and impulse control

• Behavioral health issues, including anxiety, anger, depression, hyperactivity, irritability, impulsiveness and poor concentration

• Daytime tiredness or dozing off

• Difficulty breathing through the nose, sinus congestion and a nasal-toned voice

• Difficulty waking up

• Headaches in the morning

• Snoring (moderate to loud)

• Sweating during sleep

How is pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) diagnosed?

• Learn more about pediatric sleep evaluations

• Learn more about pediatric sleep studies

What are the causes of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?

The main cause of OSA are enlarged adenoids (glands on the roof of the mouth that produce white blood cells) or tonsils (glands at the back of the throat that filter bacteria/viruses and prevent unwanted objects from going down the throat). 

Enlarged or swollen adenoids or tonsils can block airflow through the mouth and nose. Obesity can also affect breathing and cause OSA.

Risk factors

Some factors can increase the chances of being diagnosed with OSA and can make the OSA symptoms worse, including:

• Allergies or asthma

• Cerebral palsy (CP) – A congenital (present at birth) disorder that impacts movement, muscle tone or posture

• Down syndrome – A genetic chromosome 21 disorder that causes developmental and intellectual delays

• Frequent sinus infections

• Frequent occurrence of strep throat

• Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) – A digestive disease that causes stomach acid to come back up the throat and cause irritation

• Genetics/inherited (passed down through generations)

• Narrow facial bone structures or a small jaw

• Obesity

• Prader-Willi syndrome – A genetic disorder that causes intellectual disability, obesity and a short height

How is pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treated?

• Learn more about sleep apnea surgery