Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Excerpt

Sleep is an active physiologic and neurologic process essential for multiple restorative functions. Adequate quantity and quality of sleep exert a significant influence on memory consolidation, cognitive performance, learning capacity, somatic growth, and cardiovascular health in children. Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) encompasses a spectrum of disorders characterized by increased upper airway resistance and pharyngeal collapsibility, ranging from primary snoring to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which may occur across all age groups.

Pediatric OSA is a sleep-related breathing disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or complete upper airway obstruction during sleep, resulting in intermittent hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and sleep fragmentation. The condition adversely affects behavior, neurocognitive development, metabolism, and overall health in children. Early recognition, thorough evaluation, and appropriate management are critical to preventing long-term sequelae. This activity discusses the etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic approach, prognosis, and management of OSA in children. The discussion of adult OSA is presented separately.