A snoring child
BMJ 2017; 357 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j2124 (Published 18 May 2017) Cite this as: BMJ 2017;357:j2124
- Jared Gursanscky, paediatric trainee1,
- Marnee Boston, general practitioner2,
- Tawakir Kamani, consultant otolaryngologist3
- 1Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- 2Airlie Women’s Clinic, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- 3Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, UK
- Correspondence to: J Gursanscky jgursanscky@gmail.com
- Accepted 25 April 2017
What you need to know
Around one in 10 of children snore, but only 1%-4% of children have obstructive sleep apnoea
Refer children with a history of snoring and any additional features of obstructive sleep apnoea to an otolaryngologist
Treatment can include intranasal steroids, adenotonsillectomy, and weight loss if indicated
The parents of a 4 year old child complain that he is snoring loudly, is restless during sleep, and is irritable during the day.
Snoring occurs in 8%-15% of children, while obstructive sleep apnoea occurs in 1%-4%.1 2 The spectrum of sleep disordered breathing extends from normal breathing and uncomplicated snoring through to obstructive sleep apnoea, with increasing degrees of airway obstruction (fig 1⇓). Parents are often concerned about snoring because of the disordered breathing and behaviour changes that sometimes accompany it, and the possibility of an underlying medical cause. This first consultation will help to discriminate obstructive sleep apnoea from uncomplicated snoring.
Fig 1 Spectrum of symptoms and signs seen in sleep disordered breathing
Snoring results from turbulent airflow and vibration of soft tissues. In children, the primary cause of airflow turbulence …
Log in
Log in using your username and password
Log in through your institution
Subscribe from £173 *
Subscribe and get access to all BMJ articles, and much more.
* For online subscription
Access this article for 1 day for:
£38 / $45 / €42 (excludes VAT)
You can download a PDF version for your personal record.