Diagnosis of Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea for Otolaryngologists

This review describes the current state of the evaluation and diagnosis of pediatric sleep apnea. Sleep apnea in children differs in important ways from sleep apnea in adults and commonly presents with more subtle symptoms. While there can be snoring, noisy breathing, and sleepiness, not all children with sleep apnea snore. Early symptoms can be speech delay, nap refusal, nocturnal enuresis, headaches, and hyperactivity. Children with sleep apnea may have tonsil and/or adenoid hypertrophy, adenoid facies, mouth-breathing, hyponasality, or low-hanging soft palate on exam.
Source: Operative Techniques in Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery - Category: ENT & OMF Authors: Source Type: research