Snoring itself is very common. It occurs in around 10% of children and not all children who snore have OSA.  Things that can cause snoring include being overweight, floppy muscles and some medical conditions.

What is obstructive sleep apnoea?

Obstructive sleep apnoea or OSA is a type of sleep problem. It affects breathing during sleep.

All muscles relax during sleep. This includes the muscles around the throat and upper breathing tubes (airways). When this happens there is less air moving in and out of the airways. This can cause pauses in breathing. These pauses are called apnoeas.

What causes OSA?

OSA affects around 3% of children. Most common causes of OSA are big tonsils in the back of the throat or adenoids in the back of the nose.

Some problems make OSA more likely. These include conditions that increase floppiness of the throat and airway muscles. Examples of this are Down’s syndrome or being overweight. Hayfever or long-term allergies can increase obstruction inside the nose. Facial problems and muscle weakness diseases, such as cerebral palsy, can also cause OSA.

How do I know if my child has OSA?

OSA can be noticed if a child snores. Importantly snoring occurs together with pauses in breathing in OSA.

Children with OSA sleep poorly at night. They may be tired or irritable during the day. They can also have learning or behavioural problems.

Key signs and symptoms of OSA are:

During sleep at night:

• Loud snoring with pauses in breathing
• Choking, gasping or difficulty breathing
• Restless and unsettled
• Mouth breathing (instead of through their nose)
• Sleeping in unusual positions
• Excessive sweatiness
• Bedwetting

During the daytime:

• Difficulty waking up and feeling tired in the mornings
• Complaining of morning headache
• Tiredness and irritability
• Difficulty concentrating in school
• Behaviour and learning problems
• Blocked nose