High prevalence of allergic sensitization in children with habitual snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether allergic sensitization occurs frequently in children with habitual snoring and whether allergy predicts the occurrence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in snoring children.


METHODS
Prospective study of 39 children with habitual snoring who were referred for polysomnography.


METHODS
Pediatric pulmonary sleep disorders clinic in a tertiary referral center.


METHODS
Subjects underwent a complete history and physical examination. To assess for the presence of allergic sensitization, a multiantigen radioallergosorbent test (RAST) was performed on serum samples. Subjects then underwent nocturnal polysomnography to determine the presence and severity of OSAS.


RESULTS
Fourteen subjects (36%) demonstrated sensitivity to allergens; this is higher than expected for the general pediatric population. The frequency of OSAS was increased in subjects with positive RAST results compared to those with negative RAST results (57% vs 40%; chi 2 = 9.11; p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Allergy is frequently present in pediatric patients with habitual snoring. Furthermore, the presence of allergy is associated with an increased risk of OSAS in this population.
McColley
S A
SA
Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
Carroll
J L
JL
Curtis
S
S
Loughlin
G M
GM
Sampson
H A
HA
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D017286:Polysomnography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000276:immunology*; D012913:Snoring / Q000276:immunology*