Patients with OSA Do's and Don'ts
Facts about OSA in the Workplace
OSA & Children:
Approximately 2% of school aged children suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This percentage is much higher in children with poor academic performance. It is not uncommon for children with undiagnosed OSA to be misdiagnosed with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Childhood OSA affects both sexes equally, in contrast to the higher prevalence of adult OSA in males. Children between the ages of 12 and 18 who are obese or have asthma are at greater risk for OSA, although obesity is not the most common risk factor in children.
Childhood OSA can cause a variety of behavioral and health problems that may be attributed to other conditions. If left untreated, OSA may cause the following symptoms in children:
- Behavioral Symptoms: daytime drowsiness, attention deficits, learning and neurocognitive impairments, overall increase in behavioral problems, decrease in academic performance, hyperactivity, bed-wetting
- Health Symptoms: frequent snoring, restless sleep, repeated awakenings during the night, delayed growth, neurocognitive abnormalities, hypertension and cardiovascular complications (if left untreated)
Childhood OSA is commonly treated by removal of the tonsils and adenoids, and approximately 75% to 95% of children improve following surgery. It is especially important for children undergoing this surgery to receive post-operative monitoring, as OSA symptoms can increase until the tissues are healed (see OSA & surgery).
For children who do not respond to surgery or when surgery is not advised, nasal CPAP has been reported to be effective, assuming the child is willing to wear the CPAP mask.