Thank you for your question. Snoring occurs due to vibrations along the walls of a partially obstructed upper airway during sleep. While it is not uncommon for a child to snore during a cold/flu or after a long tiring day, there are some accompanying symptoms and signs that may suggest the presence of a potentially serious health condition known as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). OSA occurs when there are repeated episodes of complete or reduced airflow into your child's lungs during sleep. You should be concerned about snoring in children when:
- It occurs regularly (e.g. > 3 times/week)
- There is witnessed choking episodes or interrupted breathing during sleep
- They wet their bed at night frequently
- They have difficulty waking up in the morning
- They have poor attention span in school
- They constantly feel tired and falls asleep easily during the day
- They have behavioural problems
- They are often cranky, irritable and aggressive
- They have growth disturbances
If your child snores and has one or more of the above mentioned symptoms, you should bring him/her to visit an ENT Specialist. Common causes of sleep apnoea in children include nose allergies (medically known as Allergic Rhinitis), enlarged adenoids, enlarged tonsils and obesity. Your ENT Specialist will perform a clinical examination which often includes a nose scope to look for these common causes. A treatment plan can then be formulated based on the clinical findings.
Hope this helps and all the best!
