Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been identified and recorded in paediatric patients, the potential mechanisms for OSA include anatomical abnormalities that lead to a narrowed airway space, reduced muscle tone and abnormal central ventilatory control. Several treatments have been developed and are routinely used to treat OSA in infants and children. Nasal mask continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is an effective non-invasive treatment that prevents the majority of obstructive events, reverses sleep disturbances, improves daytime performance and is associated with increased growth in patients with failure to thrive. Surgery to correct underlying anatomical abnormalities is frequently used and usually results in an improvement in symptoms and in some cases, it is curative. Other forms of treatment include pharmacological interventions, positioning and nasopharyngeal intubation.