Snoring in a child - what may be the reasons and how to treat
Sometimes parents are faced with a problem - the child snores. What to do in such a situation? Can I self-medicate? Where and which doctor should I go to? The article discusses in detail the causes of childhood snoring and actions in such a situation.
Causes of snoring in a child
According to research by Russian scientists, 4.6% of children, aged 2 to 6, snore in their sleep.
The causes of apnea in a child can be a variety of anatomical changes in the nasopharynx, which contribute to the compression of the respiratory system:
- congenital or acquired narrowness of the nasal septum or larynx;
- inflamed lymph nodes;
- enlarged adenoids;
- laryngeal edema;
- bronchial asthma;
- allergy;
- severe renitis;
- violation of the nasal septum;
- anomaly of the hard and soft palate;
- obesity.
Snoring is common in premature babies with low weight... This should be noted and reported to the doctor, as sleep apnea is sometimes the cause of a child's sleep-related death. Simply put, when snoring, the respiratory system is blocked, there is a lack of oxygen, which leads to cardiac arrest.
If the baby rarely snores, then this is not dangerous to health. Perhaps he is just sleeping in an uncomfortable position. Try flipping your baby over onto its tummy or side.
But if the child does not sleep well due to apnea, then you should consult a doctor. So, for example, the disease "infectious mononucleosis" is masked under the usual snoring. In the first week of illness, the child simply snores and there are no signs of illness, and in the second week of illness, the lymph nodes become inflamed to such an extent that even while awake it becomes difficult to breathe. Further, the disease is accompanied by all known symptoms of the common cold. Therefore, tell the doctor about any doubts about your child's snoring.
Snoring treatment
Apnea treatment should only be prescribed by a competent specialist.
If you notice that the child, after a dream in which he snored, behaves capriciously, gets tired quickly, then call the doctor at home or make an appointment. The doctor will examine the child, feel the lymph nodes. If they are increased, he will prescribe blood and urine tests. Since a number of diseases have similar symptoms to each other, in order to make the correct appointment, it is necessary to correctly diagnose.
If you are confident that your child is healthy, there are three easy ways to stop snoring:
- The right pillow. Its height should not exceed 6 cm, otherwise a high pillow may cause snoring.
- The position of the child in a dream is only on the stomach or side. Sleeping on your back is not advisable.
- Regular ventilation in the room and humidification of the air. Dry air dries the mucous membrane of the throat and nose, which contributes to the growth of "crusts".
If these methods did not help you, then contact your otorhinolaryngologist. The specialist will conduct an examination and if the cause of the apnea is not clear, then he will prescribe an additional study at a specialized sleep center. The "polysomnography" procedure is performed. Before going to sleep, sensors are connected to the body that register heart rate, breathing movements, etc. Within 12 hours, the devices record the readings, on the basis of which a conclusion about the diagnosis is issued.
A number of exercises that help strengthen the walls of the larynx and palate will not harm either:
- During the day, ask your baby to say the letter "and" at least 20 times. This will relax the muscles in your throat.
- With your mouth closed, pull your tongue towards your throat. Tension should be felt under the chin. Repeat at least 20 times.
An extreme option is surgery. It is prescribed if there are no results after treatment and the situation is aggravated. The operation takes 10 to 25 minutes under local anesthesia. As a result, snoring decreases or disappears forever.
