Risk factors for development of OSA in children include a family history of snoring or OSA, Down’s syndrome and other medical conditions, mouth breathing and any condition that leads to a narrowing of the upper airway. An important general risk factor is obesity. A recent increase in the rate of childhood obesity has led to an increase in the number or OSA cases in children.
Symptom of OSA in children include snoring, pauses in breathing while asleep, restless sleep, bizarre sleeping positions, unusual chest movements, bedwetting, hyperactivity, stunted growth and disruptive behaviour at school.

How well are you sleeping? A recent artice in the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association discusses this common condition.

Obstrutive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition characterized by repeated episodes of airway obstruction for more than 10 seconds during sleep, resulting in pauses in breathing. OSA is the most common of the group of conditions called sleep-disordered breathing and can affect both adults and children.

Recent studies have focused on OSA in children. OSA in children usually appears between the ages of 2 and 7 years. It is more common in boys than girls which is consistent with the tendency in adults for overweight males.