Aug 22, 2006 9:27 pm US/Eastern
Many Children Suffering From Sleep Apnea
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CBS) ―
Being overweight is often the cause of sleep apnea. You may already know that, but did you know children can suffer from it?
Sleep apnea is usually associated with adults, but the nighttime breathing problem also affects two percent of all children. The condition was spotted in 3-year-old Marina by her mother Linda Sbarra who's also a pediatrician.
"She would wake up frequently during the night gasping for breath," says Dr. Sbarra.
A new study is showing the harmful effects the condition can have. Scans of children with severe sleep apnea revealed damage to brain regions associated with learning and memory. These kids also had lower IQ scores than their peers.
Sleep apnea restricts air flow and forces a child to wake up. It's believed that lack of oxygen and lack of sleep creates damage in the brain. Some experts say this new study is a wake up call to parents and doctors to have the condition treated.
In a few cases obesity leads to sleep apnea and weight loss can take care of it. But Doctor Max April says the most common cause in children is enlarged tonsils and adenoids.
"Tonsils are the tissue in your throat and adenoid tissue is the same type of lymphoid tissue but it s directly behind your nose," says Dr. April.
Last week Doctor April performed surgery on Marina. He shaved down her tonsils and adenoids to allow air in.
"It's an outpatient 40 minute operation most children go home in two to three hours after the surgery," says Dr. April.
"She sleeps so peacefully, she doesn't wake up during the night," says Sbarra of her daughter?s progress.
It's not known what effect, if any, sleep apnea had on Marina. Researchers are now planning studies to see if damage done by the condition is reversed after treatment.
Other signs your child may suffer from sleep apnea include snoring, mouth breathing, being very tired during the day and not gaining weight.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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