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Getting Smarter about Kids with Sleep Apnea
I like the direction this study is taking. Seems as if not enough attention has been devoted to Sleep Apnea in Kids . . .
Children, just like adults can suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, brought on
by enlarged tonsils and adenoids.
Today, as many as 3 percent of all children and as many as 30 percent of
overweight or obese children have the condition. And about 75 percent of the
500,000 surgeries performed each year to remove tonsils or adenoids are to cure
the sleep disorder, rather than chronic infections such as tonsillitis.
Dr. Ron Mitchell, professor of otolaryngology at St. Louis University, is
recruiting children for a study to compare those who undergo surgery to remove
their tonsils or adenoids versus those who receive treatments, such as a saline
nasal spray.
SLU is one of six research sites nationwide participating in the ChildHood
AdenoTonsillectomy study that will look at 500 children with obstructive sleep
apnea. It's being funded by the National Institutes of Health.
"In normal weight kids, (sleep apnea) is usually from tonsils and adenoids that
start getting larger at age 3 and stop at about age 8, then shrink in the teen
years," says Mitchell. "They can get so big that they block the nose and mouth
so air flow is restricted, similar to what happens in adults."
These children, he adds, often experience quality of life and health issues in
the form of learning problems, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,
obesity, pre-diabetes, slow growth and high cholesterol.
During the study, the children will undergo an overnight sleep study to see if
they have sleep apnea. Researchers will also determine if they have any health
or quality of life issues.
Those who have sleep apnea will be divided into two groups: one will have their
tonsils and adenoids removed; the other will get saline nasal spray to use each
day. Seven months later, they'll undergo another sleep apnea test and will be
evaluated again for the health conditions and behavioral issues.
Mitchell hopes the study will help doctors better determine when to recommend
surgery and when to wait and see if the child grows out of the problem.
"This will allow us to use health care resources more effectively," he says.
"We'll be able to counsel parents in a more evidence-base manner."
(source: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/lifestyle/stories.nsf/healthfitnes...)
Children, just like adults can suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, brought on
by enlarged tonsils and adenoids.
Today, as many as 3 percent of all children and as many as 30 percent of
overweight or obese children have the condition. And about 75 percent of the
500,000 surgeries performed each year to remove tonsils or adenoids are to cure
the sleep disorder, rather than chronic infections such as tonsillitis.
Dr. Ron Mitchell, professor of otolaryngology at St. Louis University, is
recruiting children for a study to compare those who undergo surgery to remove
their tonsils or adenoids versus those who receive treatments, such as a saline
nasal spray.
SLU is one of six research sites nationwide participating in the ChildHood
AdenoTonsillectomy study that will look at 500 children with obstructive sleep
apnea. It's being funded by the National Institutes of Health.
"In normal weight kids, (sleep apnea) is usually from tonsils and adenoids that
start getting larger at age 3 and stop at about age 8, then shrink in the teen
years," says Mitchell. "They can get so big that they block the nose and mouth
so air flow is restricted, similar to what happens in adults."
These children, he adds, often experience quality of life and health issues in
the form of learning problems, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,
obesity, pre-diabetes, slow growth and high cholesterol.
During the study, the children will undergo an overnight sleep study to see if
they have sleep apnea. Researchers will also determine if they have any health
or quality of life issues.
Those who have sleep apnea will be divided into two groups: one will have their
tonsils and adenoids removed; the other will get saline nasal spray to use each
day. Seven months later, they'll undergo another sleep apnea test and will be
evaluated again for the health conditions and behavioral issues.
Mitchell hopes the study will help doctors better determine when to recommend
surgery and when to wait and see if the child grows out of the problem.
"This will allow us to use health care resources more effectively," he says.
"We'll be able to counsel parents in a more evidence-base manner."
(source: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/lifestyle/stories.nsf/healthfitnes...)
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on -
I would like to have all children tested before they are labeled learning disabled, ADHD, ADD, or other conditions that maybe attributed to sleep apnea.
I think it would be a small price to pay to have a proper diagnosis instead of always reaching for the easiest route to solve a problem.
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Permalink Reply by Rock Hinkle on -
I agree Carol I know that in my own experience with my daughter this can be a tough road to go down. With everything that I demanded for my duaghters well being i am now sure that we received the right Dx.
sleepycarol said:I would like to have all children tested before they are labeled learning disabled, ADHD, ADD, or other conditions that maybe attributed to sleep apnea.
I think it would be a small price to pay to have a proper diagnosis instead of always reaching for the easiest route to solve a problem.
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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on
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I know all the testing can be an expensive drain on family finances but it is far better to have a right DX then to just slap a bandaid on the problem.
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Permalink Reply by D. W. Conn on -
My first Cardiac trauma case was a 7 year old with myocardial infarction. This 7 year old child presented to the cath lab unconscious and chest compressions being performed. This 7 year old boy was obese 94 pounds and 46 inches tall. His dad said he cried out in his sleep then said his chest hurt. The child then lapsed into unconsciousness. 911 was called and paramedics arrived and found him to be in V-Tach degrading into V-Fib within a few minutes, shocks were successful temporarily revealing sinus tach with elevated S-T segment. This means heart attack. The Child went back into V-Fib in route to Hospital and was brought into the cath lab.
He was shocked back into Sinus R, angiogram was performed and it was found his LAD had spasm and closed off and he had a 90% occlusion of the circumflex artery. Following stinting (yes we do stint kiddos) he was monitored in PICU for over a week. It was found he had unresolved sleep apnea with SpO2 as low as 74% while sleeping. T & A was performed and he was kept in the hospital. This did not resolve the situation and CPAP therapy was started. This was in 1993 and in 2003 he was still doing fine. He had weight loss and he had grown into a nice looking young man. He continued CPAP therapy and in 2003 was sent to the sleep lab where it was found he continued to have sleep apnea. Have no idea how he is today. This child’s parents were diligent with his treatment I am sure he is doing well.Children and heart attacks. I thought I had seen the worst but then a 19 month old female came in cardiac distress. I cried through the entire case.
The purpose of telling you this story is to inform you of the necessity of screening children for Apnea and cardiac issues. Many times we as healthcare workers overlook the obvious. One would not expect a child of 7 to suffer from what is thought to be a middle-aged man’s disease.
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