Could snoring be a sign of a more serious health problem?

Q. Could snoring be a sign of a more serious health problem?
A. Most children seldom snore, so loud and regular snoring is unusual in otherwise healthy children. Rea
Most children seldom
snore, so loud and regular
snoring is unusual in otherwise
healthy children. It could be a sign
of a respiratory infection, a stuffy
nose or allergies. It could also
be a symptom of the potentially
serious condition obstructive sleep
apnea (OS A), which occurs when
A
children’s throat muscles relax
too much during sleep and
block the airway, causing an
extended pause in breathing.
The brain then alerts the body,
causing the child to gasp or
snort. The child must wake up
to begin breathing again. This
may cause your child to lose
sleep, be tired during the day
and have behavior problems
including difficulties at school.
OS A may be related to obesity,
allergies, asthma, gastroesophageal
reflux disease
or other conditions.
The
most common
physical cause
is enlarged
adenoids and
tonsils. Having
the adenoids
and/or tonsils
removed can
effectively treat the disorder.
If you have concerns about
your child’s snoring or possible
OS A, contact your child’s
pediatrician.