Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Childhood

Abstract

Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Childhood Abstract. One out of ten healthy children is a habitual snorer, and one fourth of snoring children suffer from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). While OSAS is widely recognized as a relevant social and health problem due to its negative impact on behavior and neurocognitive development, the medical significance of habitual snoring remains debated. Sleep-disordered breathing remains underestimated and underdiagnosed in childhood, in part due to the variability of clinical manifestations. This is particularly true for children with an underlying syndromal morbidity such as Down syndrome or Prader-Willi syndrome. This review summarizes the essential key points of Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB) in childhood.