Diagnosis and evaluation of obstructive sleep apnoea in children.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this article is to review the medical literature and describe clinical and laboratory findings in children with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) to differentiate children with OSA from those with primary snoring or other disorders, with a particular focus on Asian children.


METHODS
Medline search via Pub Med, search terms sleep apnoea and children; and sleep apnoea and children and Asian.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with OSA usually present with snoring, daytime sleepiness, and/or difficulties in school or behaviour. The prevalence of OSA in Asian children is less than that of other groups, but the severity of the disorder on presentation may be greater. Overnight polysomnography remains the diagnostic "gold standard"; limited studies, or studies in the home, are not sufficient to exclude OSA in a child with suggestive symptoms, nor can they reliably assess the severity of the disorder which is important in planning treatment. Limited studies may, however, be useful in large-scale research studies.
Brooks
Lee J
LJ
University of Pennsylvania, USA. brooksl@email.chop.edu
D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D010092:Oximetry; D010808:Physical Examination; D017286:Polysomnography; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*