Does your child find it difficult to sleep for long hours? Do you feel there is something in his throat that is blocking the passageway of free, flowing air?
Get him checked for Sleep Apnea.
Sleep Apnea is a disorder that is caused by frequent interruptions to sleep. There are many types of sleep apnea, but the most common of them is what is called OSA, or Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This is caused by a blockage or an obstruction in the respiratory channel, preventing your child from sleeping for long. If your toddler is unable to sleep, and wakes up frequently during the night, get him checked for this condition. Sleep Apnea is a potentially life-threatening disorder. So do not take it lightly.
Causes of sleep apnea:
Usually, in young children who are between the ages 3 and 6, OSA could be caused by tonsillitis or adenoids. During these years, both tonsils and adenoids are bigger in size than compared to the child’s size of passageway. Both, the tonsils or adenoids could be enlarged , which work to block the breathing flow. Adenoids are glands that are situated just behind the nose, in the throat. At night, when your child is trying to sleep, the muscles of these organs could relax, enlarging and therefore blocking your child’s ability to breathe freely. Sometimes, infections or even allergies could cause the tonsils or the adenoids to enlarge in size, causing sleep apnea for a temporary phase of time. Other factors could be obesity or certain facial tendencies, like a small-sized chin or a cleft palate. Congenital conditions like Down’s syndrome could also lead to this disorder.
How do you tell if your child has OSA? Symptoms of Sleep Apnea:
If your child has difficulty in breathing freely, or snores through his sleep, he could be having OSA. Snoring is a symptom of OSA, but even if he does not snore, he could be having sleep apnea. Not all cases of snoring in children lead to OSA, but it is a sign. You should be warned, especially if your child breathes through his mouth most of the time, or if he wakes up , choking or coughing , many times during the night. Sweating in profusion is also a sign.
Do not neglect this condition. Take him to your doctor immediately, who, after examining him will either refer him to an ENT specialist, or a lung specialist, for expert advice. There are sleep experts in western countries, but in India, a specialist trained in this disorder will be able to guide you and suggest a remedy. Usually, in many cases, tonsillitis is usually the culprit. So get your little one checked for sleep apnea, and get him to sleep alright once again.