Why this is not a good sign if your child is snoring loudly

Intense and regular nocturnal snoring is not normal in healthy children and could indicate a more serious illness, warned the National Sleep Foundation.

Sometimes it is a sign of respiratory infection, stuffy nose or allergy, but it can also be a symptom of l? ;Sleep Apnea.

Most children snore on occasion, and about 10% or more snore most nights.

According to the NSF's experts, snoring is "a noise that occurs during sleep when inhaling and there is some obstruction of the air that pbades through the back of the mouth ".

Gasps or breaks

This opening and closing of the air pbadage vibrates the tissues of the throat and the rate at which these tissues vibrate determines the volume of the snoring, reports the Mirror.

But when snoring is accompanied by gasps or breathing pauses, the child may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)

Children's muscles relax normally during sleep, but they can become so that the airways are narrowed or blocked and there is not enough air to get through.

This impedes breathing, causing a pause in breathing that lasts only a few seconds, or even a minute.

The brain is then alerted and signals the body to make an effort to start breathing, which causes a gasp or snort, an awakening and a resumption of breathing.

Because of these repeated breathing excitations, the child may not have a quality sleep and is likely to fall asleep or be tired during the day.

In 2002, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that all children be screened for snoring and that a diagnosis be established to determine if a child has normal primary snoring. or an obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Obesity, allergies, asthma, gastroenterological reflux disorders, an abnormality of the physical structure of the face or jaw, as well as medical and neurological conditions are contributing factors to the ## 147 ## Sleep apnea.

In children, the physical problem most often badociated with sleep apnea is the size of the tonsils.

Tonsils of young children are quite large compared to the throat and reach their maximum between five and seven years.

Swollen tonsils can block the airways, making breathing difficult and may mean apnea.

Watch out for these signs

So how do you know if your child is suffering from this? Snoring may be the first clue, so keep an open ear to know how often they snore and how loud it is.

However, this is not the only sign to watch for: if your child wakes up several times a night, he can become very sleepy during the day. They can also sleep in odd positions that make breathing easier.

All this could also change their mood and behavior, so note their behavior as well.

In order to determine if your child has OSAS or not, he will have to undergo a sleep study that will be conducted during a one – night visit to the hospital.

The study measures various bodily functions, such as respiratory pattern and heart rate.

The results of the study will determine the diagnosis and the aftermath of things.

There are currently several treatments for OSA, including an examination of the ears, nose and throat, the insertion of nasal stems to keep the airway open and the CPAP, which implies that the child is wearing a mask during his sleep that provides him with a continuous stream of air.

If you have concerns about your child's snoring, talk to a health professional.