Snoring in Children

Effective treatment is available for almost all patients. The treatment of snoring is often a combination of medical and surgical options. The choice of therapy will depend on the underlying cause and the extent of the problem.

Medical

As nasal obstruction increases the frequency of snoring and sleep disordered breathing, your doctor may prescribe nasal sprays or oral medications to help your child breathe better through his nose during sleep.

For those diagnosed with sleep apnoea, Nasal CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is used to supply pressurised air into the upper airway via a nasal mask. This keeps the upper airway open.

Surgical

Surgical procedures for the treatment of snoring may include surgery of the nose, palate, jaw, tongue and/or neck, depending on the location of the tissues contributing to the snoring.

Certain nasal conditions such as deviated nasal septum and very large tonsils and adenoids may require assessment by the ENT surgeon.

Surgery to remove the tonsils and adenoids is the mainstay of surgical treatment for OSA in children.

Another procedure, radiofrequency thermal ablation of the inferior turbinates (structures in the nasal cavity that may cause nasal obstruction), stiffens and shrinks this nasal tissue and may additionally be used to treat snoring in certain children.

Useful suggestions

• Obesity adds to the risk of snoring and apnoea. If your child is obese, his weight must be managed along with his treatment.
• Sleep on the side and avoid sleeping on the back. Some snore, or snore heavily, only when sleeping on the back.