Question

A major cause of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in adult is obesity. How does sleep apnea syndrome occur in children who are not obese?

Answer 1

Ans) Childhood and adolescent obesity have reached epidemic proportions worldwide.

- OSA significantly complicates obesity and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular, metabolic, neuro-cognitive burden as well as negative impact on the quality of life in obese children.

- Alldisciplines involved in the well-being of obese children must be involved in sleep surveillance strategies to highlight obese children at an increased risk for OSA. Early recognition and treatment of OSA, in addition to weight loss strategies, could provide an opportunity for cardiovascular and metabolic risk reduction in childhood which would positively impact the health of these children not only in childhood but also in adulthood.

- Pediatric OSAS has been commonly overlooked and underdiagnosed by both parents and clinician until now.

- Clinicians should be familiar with the manifestations of OSAS because children have various clinical symptoms and signs according to their developmental stages. OSAS in children are also different from OSAS in adults, in particular with respect to pathophysiology, gender distribution, and nocturnal and daytime symptoms. Children with OSAS but were not treated may have serious morbidities such as neurobehavioral, cardiovascular, and impairment of growth and development, most of which are reversible by early detection and treatment.

- Although clinical parameters in the pediatric PSG field are still evolving, PSG is a good diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of pediatric OSAS.