An eye-opening diagnosis; one that’s keeping kids up at night - obstructive sleep apnea. It describes constriction in the airways that causes repeated lapses in breathing during the night.
“The reason why kids have obstructive sleep apnea, many times, it has to do with tonsils or adenoids being enlarged,” says Dr. Jose Colon, who is a sleep specialist for Lee Memorial Health System.
Tonsillectomy may be the most common option to resolve pediatric sleep apnea. Because removing tonsils is a permanent change, doctors are now considering the severity of apnea. In many cases, the condition may be mild or temporary.
“Tonsils may shrink over time and as you grow the airway matures as well. And we can potentially outgrow that,” says Dr. Colon.
A second option is drug therapy.
“What we’ve found is that there are medications that can help reduce upper airway inflammation. Sometimes a nasal steroid, sometimes leukotriene inhibitors,” says Dr. Colon.
Somewhere between surgery and medication is option three. Oral devices. They address the physical problem, from nighttime mouthpieces to customized devices that reposition the lower jaw.
“There are dental procedures that can expand the palate and make it so that an airway is not as narrow, so that there’s less collapsibility,” says Dr. Colon.
The fourth option is the C-PAP mask. It provides a continuous flow of air through the airway. Common in adults with apnea, it can be used at any age.
“The youngest kid, that I have currently is about 9 months of age that does have sleep apnea that has had a dramatic effect with the C-PAP,” says Dr. Colon.
Given the range of options, your doctor can help you decide the best path to a good night’s sleep.
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Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.
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