We tend to think of the classic sleep apnea patient as an overweight, middle-aged man. While that may be true in many cases, they are certainly not the only group that suffers from sleep apnea. What about children? That’s right; sleep apnea doesn’t just affect men and women, it also affects children.
Like all sleep apnea, it can go undiagnosed for quite a while. The main thing to notice in a child who may have sleep apnea is their behavior. Lack of concentration and disruptive behavior are two of the most common results, but these may often be diagnosed as other problems like ADHD or ADD. Being overly tired, crying easily, exaggerated moods (mainly bad ones) and trouble staying awake in school are all potential signs. Many parents and grandparents may just see these behaviors as kids being kids, so look more carefully.
There are other red flags for pediatric sleep apnea besides behavioral changes. They can include weight loss or not being able to gain weight, snoring and mouth breathing, a sore throat in the morning and restless nights.
If you suspect that your child has sleep apnea, a pediatric sleep study can be done to help confirm the diagnosis.
Should the sleep study come back positive for sleep apnea, your doctor will probably first recommend an adenotonsillectomy, tonsillotomy or a tonsillectomy. Having enlarged tonsils and adenoids are a common childhood problem, and their removal can aid in OSA treatment. In the past, doctors were much quicker to have the tonsils removed than they are today. If surgery is not an option, the next line of treatment will often be CPAP.
No matter what age a patient is, CPAP Central has CPAP machines to fit your needs. You will find the right size and style of CPAP masks and CPAP supplies by visiting our website today.