Sleep apnea in children: causes and symptoms to watch out for

Sleep apnea is more common in adults, but it is possible that children can experience it too. If not treated immediately, sleep apnea can have a negative impact on the health and development of children in the future. This sleep disturbance can cause sudden death. So, what are the signs of sleep apnea in children that parents should be aware of? Find out the answer in this article.

Sleep apnea at a glance

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes breathing to stop during sleep due to obstruction of a person's airway. This obstacle causes the flow of air to the lungs to stagnate so that the brain and other tissues and organs of the body don't get enough oxygen. This stopping breathing can cause a person to wake up suddenly with a huff from a choking sensation. The average rate of cessation of breath due to apnea lasts 10-60 seconds. In extreme cases, breathing may stop every 30 seconds.

There are many things that can trigger a person to suffer from this disease. Starting from age (the older, the more vulnerable), gender (men are more at risk), the shape and / or size of the airway is not normal (small jaw, large tongue, the presence of tonsils, or a narrow trachea), to the condition / underlying disease (asthma, polio, hypothyroidism, Down syndrome, to obesity).

Signs of sleep apnea in children

1. Snoring tight

Loud snoring or snoring are the main signs of sleep apnea in children that you should be aware of. During sleep, the child's airway should be weak and widened, but sleep apnea actually causes a constriction so that every breath the child takes makes the tissue around his airway vibrate, and produces a snoring sound. Most children who snore while sleeping may never realize that they are snoring.

2. Often sleep while walking

Based on the survey results quoted from the Very Well page, it is known that 10% of people have the habit of sleeping while walking (sleepwalking), most of them are children aged 3 to 10 years.

Although the cause of a child sleeping while walking is difficult to know, sleep apnea is strongly suspected as one of the main factors. The reason is, people who have sleep apnea often wake up several times during sleep. Well, this is what causes children to be more likely to have the habit of sleeping while walking.

3. Grind your teeth

Grinding your teeth (bruxism) can also be a sign of sleep apnea in children. For some people, this bad habit occurs unconsciously during sleep. Sleep apnea often occurs when soft tissues such as the tonsils, adenoids, and tongue at the back of the throat block the airway. Well, grinding your teeth may be one of the body's reflexes to keep the airway open.

The habit of grinding teeth, which is still in a mild stage, does not require further treatment or treatment. However, in some cases, this bad habit can lead to chin deformity, headaches, tooth decay, and other problems.

4. Frequent bedwetting

Children often have the habit of bedwetting their bed. However, you must be vigilant if your child who is over five years old the frequency of wetting the bed is still frequent. The reason is, this could be a sign of sleep apnea in children.

Bedwetting occurs due to inhibition of the production of anti-deuretic hormone (ADH) which functions to prevent your little one from urinating at night. Well, if this hormone is not produced, it will make the child wet the bed more often. In addition, sleep apnea will also make your child more sensitive to the fast full bladder at night, making him prone to bedwetting.

5. Excessive sweating

If you see your little one's pajamas, sheets, or blanket soaking wet with sweat in the morning even though the air conditioner or fan is on all night, this may be a sign that your child is struggling to breathe during the night's sleep. Sleep apnea causes a decrease in oxygen levels throughout the body due to obstruction of the airway. This difficulty breathing can cause the child's blood pressure to spike unconsciously and increase the production of stress hormones which can cause him to sweat profusely.

6. Restless while sleeping

Restless sleep is also a sign of sleep apnea in children. The reason is, difficulty breathing makes him reflex to continue to look for the most comfortable sleeping position for him to breathe better. In addition, you may find your little one sleeping in a strange position than most people.

If you are concerned that your child may have signs of sleep apnea as mentioned above, immediately consult a pediatrician. This is done so that the child can immediately receive proper care.