الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder of breathing in children characterized by partial and/or complete upper airway obstruction that disrupts sleep and normal gas exchange. The reported prevalence of OSA in children is 2-4% and occurs at a peak age of 2-8 years. However, snoring, which is a key symptom of OSA occurs habitually in approximately 3-12 % of pre-school aged children. The most common cause of OSA in children is adenotonsillar hypertrophy. If left untreated, OSA may lead to serious sequelae including cardiovascular, metabolic, neurobehavioral conditions, growth failure, learning deficits, and poor quality of life. Furthermore not only the child with OSA, but also his family may suffer worry about the child. |