Reasons for Snoring in Children
Occasional snoring can be normal to children. Recent studies show that 3 to 12 percent of children in the age group of 1 and 9 snore. But frequency does not mean normality. Habitual snoring can be an underlying cause of an increasing severe medical problem called obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) or simply, sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a complaint seen as a loud snoring with periods of breathing interruptions. Interruptions may be short or prolonged, normally between 5 to 30 seconds. During this period, the child's couldn't get straight sleep. He rouses and moves to another sleeping position, then resumes sleep. After some time he will once again begin snoring. This activity often happens several times throughout the night, every night. Although this condition rarely appears on children, it is very important that moms and dads should look out for symptoms that come in addition to it.
Characteristics of sleep-apnea incorporate
Poor oral communication traits - talking that sounds like words over a mouthful of hot potato.
Reduced growth rate. Children suffering from sleep-apnea use more energy in breathing when asleep. During meals, they tend to eat slowly since it is hard for them to breathe and chew simultaneously. The result is, they have insufficient nutrients to support their growth.
Hyperactivity. Lack of sleep can lead to drowsiness on children during the day. To stay awake, children act frantically.
Poor operation in school. Since children do not get the correct sleep when asleep, they are inclined to appear tired and lack the concentration to focus at high school, hence, having a poor functioning.
When these signs are visible, it is imperative for parents to bring their child to a pediatrician and have him examined. A child can be happy and smiling when he is brought to the physician and as a consequence, it is challenging to diagnose if he really has sleep-apnea. Mothers and fathers are advised to record their child's snoring so that the physician can analyze the situation in actually.
Meanwhile, sleep-apnea is not the sole reason why children snore. Other reasons include allergy attack, obesity, asthma, and enlargement of adenoids and/or tonsils as a consequence of cold or tonsillitis.
Some allergy attacks can cause swelling on the linings of the nose that can direct to the enlargement of adenoids. This keeps the youngster from breathing normally. This causes their child to snore. After the allergy attack, the snoring ends.
Excessive weight can also result in snoring. In fact, 20% and 40% of the obese children snore. This is because fats can form around the throat that can result in constriction and makes the limited airways. Also, fats in the stomach can cause the diaphragm to function irregularly.
Asthma is it is said another cause why children snore. A study revealed that 40% of the children told they have asthma snore.
Enlargement of adenoids and/or tonsils caused by cold or tonsillitis also results to snoring. While cold or tonsillitis can be remedied by decongestant and antibiotics, adenoid enlargement is treated by surgical operation to remove adenoids and tonsils.
Underdevelopment of the jaw within the womb can result in snoring as well. There is in addition the possibility that the nerves and the muscles cannot control the airway properly and cause that child to snore.
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