Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome is a dyssomnia.
Who: 2-3%, the highest prevalence is in preschool-aged children
What: It is "a disorder of breathing characterized by partial or complete upper airway obstruction during sleep. The obstruction can be intermittent or protracted and interferes with normal ventilation and normal sleep patterns."
When: During sleep.
Where: In bed.
What: "Symptoms include nightly snoring frequently accompanied by sporadic pauses, gasping, choking, disrupted sleep, and daytime attentional and/or behavioral problems. Associated problems include chronic rhinitis, nasal congestion, mouth breathing, otitis media, sore throats, halitosis, and frequent upper respiratory infections. Frequent complications include attention and behavioral difficulties, restless sleep, and growth impairment."
Why: The abnormal body functions that accompany this particular syndrome are an inadequate supply of oxygen to the tissues resulting from apneas (suspension of external breathing) and leads to numerous arousals from sleep.
How: How does a parent deal with this? First, if any of these symptoms seem familiar, you need to pay careful attention to your child's sleep. "Children with suspected OSAS symptoms should be referred to a pediatric otolaryngologist for evaluation, and a sleep study should be considered."
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