All you need to Know about Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Kids
                     All you need to Know 
about Obstructive 
Sleep Apnea in Kids  
What is Obstructive Sleep 
Apnea?
Sleep Apnea is a condition in which a person tends to stop breathing while sleeping. It generally 
happens when there is an obstruction in the upper airways. This is termed Obstructive Sleep Apnea. 
Obstructive Sleep Apnea can contribute to the lower levels of oxygen in the blood which can 
interrupt the body’s functions. 
This can make children miserable and leave them sleep-deprived. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a sleep 
disorder that can become worse if left untreated. It can affect your growth hormones and your 
behavioral traits.  
What are the causes of 
Obstructive Sleep Apnea? 
The human body tends to relax while sleeping including the muscles present at the back of the 
throat. In Obstructive Sleep Apnea, these muscles are more likely to collapse and cause pauses in 
breathing. This is especially due to the expanded adenoids and tonsils present at the back of the 
nasal cavity which can block the airways during Sleep. 
together factors can make our drone to OSA- 
• Family history 
• Overweight 
• Some serious medical conditions such as cerebral palsy and Down syndrome 
• Anatomic issues 
• The enlarged tongue wan fall back and block the airways while sleeping 
What are the signs that make 
you prone to OSA? 
Central sleep apnea (CSA) occurs when the brain does not send the signal to breathe to the muscles 
of breathing. This usually occurs in infants or adults with heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, or 
congenital diseases, but it also can be caused by some medications and high altitudes.
Central sleep apnea may occur in premature infants (born before 37 weeks of gestation) or in full-
term infants. It is defined as apneas lasting more than 20 seconds, usually with a change in the 
heart rate, a reduction in blood oxygen, or hypotonia (general relaxation of the body's muscles). 
These children often will require an apnea monitor that sounds an alarm when apneas occur. 
Central sleep apnea in children is not the same thing as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Under normal circumstances, the brain monitors several things to determine how often to breathe. If 
it senses a lack of oxygen or an excess of carbon dioxide in the blood it will speed up breathing. The 
increase in breathing increases the oxygen and decreases the carbon dioxide in the blood. Some 
people with heart or lung disease have an increase in carbon dioxide in their blood at all times. 
In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), apneas have four components.
• First, the airway collapses or becomes obstructed.
• Second, an effort is made to take a breath, but it is unsuccessful.
• Third, the oxygen level in the blood drops as a result of unsuccessful breathing.
• Finally, when the amount of oxygen reaching the brain decreases, the brain signals the body to wake 
up and take a breath. (This is what the bed partner hears as a silence followed by a gasp for air. 
These are some things you should know about Sleep Apnea. 
                                                      Thank You