IJERPH, Vol. 17, Pages 3531: Age and Upper Airway Obstruction: A Challenge to the Clinical Approach in Pediatric Patients

IJERPH, Vol. 17, Pages 3531: Age and Upper Airway Obstruction: A Challenge to the Clinical Approach in Pediatric Patients International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph17103531 Authors: Luana Marco Francesca Giorgio Giulia Silvia Daniela Angelo Massimo Upper airway abnormalities increase the risk of pediatric morbidity in infants. A multidisciplinary approach to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) poses challenges to clinical practice. The incidence and causes of OSA are poorly studied in children under 2 years of age. To fill this gap, we performed this retrospective observational study to determine the causes of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children admitted to our hospital between January 2016 and February 2018, after a brief unexplained event (BRUE) or for OSA. We reviewed the medical charts of 82 patients (39 males; BRUE n = 48; OSAS n = 34) and divided them into two age groups: < 1 year old (1–12 months; n = 59) and >1 year old (>12–24 months; n = 23). Assessment included nap polysomnography, multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH, and nasopharyngoscopy. Sleep disordered breathing was comparable between the two groups. Omega-shaped epiglottis, laryngomalacia, and nasal septum deviation were more frequent in the younger group, and nasal congestion in older group. Tonsillar and adenoidal hypertrophy was more frequent in the older gro...
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research