[Pediatricians and sleep-disordered breathing in the child].
OBJECTIVE
Assessment of opinions and practices of pediatricians concerning sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children.


METHODS
Randomly 516 pediatricians were selected in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. A survey mailed to them included questions regarding: their professional profile, knowledge about SDB in childhood, opinions and practices for diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.


RESULTS
112 anonymous completed surveys were returned (21.7%). The teaching of SDB during medical school and pediatric residency raining was considered unsatisfactory respectively by 65.2% and 34.8% of the pediatricians. Forty-nine respondents (43.8%) rated their knowledge about SDB in children as regular, 39 (34.8%) as good and 17 (15.2%) as unsatisfactory. The most important sleep-related questions were: mouth breathing, breathing pauses, sleep amount, excessive daytime sleepiness and nocturnal wheezing. Clinical aspects regarded as the most significant for suspecting obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) were: breathing pauses, adenoid hypertrophy, mouth breathing, craniofacial anomaly and snoring. The most frequent practices for evaluation of OSAS in children were: cavum radiography with referral to an otorhinolaryngologist (25%) and nocturnal pulse oximetry (14.2%). Only 11.6% of pediatricians recommended overnight polysomnography and 4.5%, nap polysomnography. The most effective practices for SDB were considered to be: adenoidectomy and adenotonsillectomy, parents counseling, weight loss and sleep hygiene.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a gap between research on SDB in childhood and pediatric practice.
Balbani
Aracy Pereira Silveira
AP
Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Bioestatística, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho. a_balbani@hotmail.com
Weber
Silke Anna Thereza
SA
Montovani
Jair Cortez
JC
Carvalho
Lídia Raquel de
LR
D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D017286:Polysomnography; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires