THE ESSENTIAL
- Sleep-disordered breathing in children is poorly detected and poorly treated.
- Growth hormones, secreted mainly during sleep, are disrupted by respiratory disorders.
In a chronicle of Monde in 2018, a group of doctors brought attention to sleep-disordered breathing in children. “These children are victims of a common but little-known disease, which urgently needs to be brought to light.” expose the scientists. “Everywhere in France, there are thousands of children who suffer from learning and behavioral disorders, worsening of their asthma and other chronic pathologies. Among the causes, however, there is one quite curable: sleep-disordered breathing”, they specify.
Abnormal breathing at night: many risk factors
The term “sleep disordered breathing” refers to a group of conditions that cause abnormal breathing during the sleep. For example, sleep apnea occurs when a person is unable to breathe for a short time due to temporary obstruction of the pharynx. At least 5% of children are affected, “and it is to be feared that these figures will climb, the risk factors for this pathology being in constant increase in our society”, add the doctors.
These risk factors are passive smoking, an unbalanced diet, a sedentary lifestyle, enlarged adenoids and tonsils, family history, allergies and even air pollution. Yet too few children are screened and treated. “These little patients need all of us, and we’re calling to make childhood sleep disorders a great national cause.” concluded the collective.
Growth hormone is disturbed by respiratory disorders
There are three well-recognized and treated types of sleep-disordered breathing in adults: obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and mixed sleep apnea. Symptoms to watch out for are very loud snoringthe urge to urinate at night, night sweats, an irregular breathing rhythm, even stopping breathing (which is not fatal).
In children, growth hormone, secreted mainly during sleep, is particularly disturbed by respiratory diseases. The fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating and learning disabilities need attention. The main issue is “to promote school learning and limit absenteeism, it is at the level of the school year that we must be effective. To do this, networks of local professionals must be created in order to offer more accessible care to parents and less costly to society“, concluded the doctors.
