Snoring in Children

Many children snore during sleep and nearly ten percent of them snore more at night. Snoring in children happens when the inhaled air gets blocked while passing through the back of the mouth. This opening and closing of air passages vibrates the throat tissues causing snoring. The loudness of the snore is dependent on the amount of air that is passing through and the extent of vibration.

Usually, children above three years of age are likely to snore in deep sleep. Yet, it is to be noted that extremely loud night snoring can indicate a problem even if the children are otherwise healthy. This is because they could be suffering from breathing problems. Besides, snoring in children could also imply a stuffy nose, allergy, respiratory infection or more severe disorders like sleep apnea.

Snoring Causes in Children

• Seasonal allergies leading to blockage and stuffiness in the nose
• Common cold, asthma or sinus infections that can create blockages in the nasal passage and airways leading to rattling snoring sounds
• A deviation in the septum which is the tissue and cartilage that bifurcates the two nostrils in the nose
• Enlargement of the tonsils or adenoids
• Overweight problems which lead to the narrowing of air passages
• Sleep disorders like sleep apnea where the airways are obstructed inhibiting the free passage of air. This could result in breathing pauses which could last for a few seconds or even prevail for a minute making the child gasp for air
• Certain medical and neurological health issues
• Abnormalities in the anatomical  structure of the jaw or face
• Gastro-Intestinal Reflux Disorder(GERD)

Impact of Snoring on Children

Habitual snoring in which occur as frequent episodes (at least thrice a week at nights) should not be ignored as it signifies an underlying medical problem. Disturbed sleep due to snoring and other related problems like obstruction of airways can make children hyperactive or disruptive in the classroom and even affect mental concentration. The consequences can be more serious in severe cases where children face increased threat of metabolic and hypertension disorders, delayed growth or even cardiovascular problems. Hence, it is strongly advisable to consult the ENT doctor if symptoms persist.

Snoring Treatment

• Lifestyle Changes - In mild cases, making some simple lifestyle modifications can act as a good remedy and cure for snoring. Avoiding eating heavy meals at night, losing excess weight, removing any possible triggers of allergy including pets and stuffed animals from the child’s room, maintaining hygiene in the home surroundings and tilting the bed top by a few inches upwards are some such techniques for reducing occasional snoring.
• Medication - Doctors may prescribe anti-allergic medicines, antihistamines and antibiotics if allergies and infections are the root cause. They may also recommend nasal snoring solutions to relieve the nasal congestion and dilate the nostrils for preventing snoring.
• External Devices - Oral Appliances may be suggested by paediatric dentists to keep the air passages open and enable easier breathing for preventing snoring. Certain nasal strips and pressurised air masks like Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine and palatal implants also help to reduce snoring significantly.
• Surgical Intervention - Throat surgery for snoring is usually recommended for children who suffer from snoring due to large tonsils or adenoids. Mostly, these surgeries are performed mainly to treat obstructed breathing rather than removing the tonsils or adenoids. Nowadays, laser surgery for snoring (Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty or LAUP) is gaining increased popularity due to its high success rates in treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) that causes the snoring. Surgeries are also done to remove structural abnormalities like a deviated septum.

ENT Treatment in Coimbatore is known for its competency in treatment for snoring and other related sleep problems. ENT doctors in Coimbatore offer promising services thanks to their enriched experiences and specialisation. For more information, please connect with this ENT hospital in Coimbatore.