title: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children.
abstract: The clinical syndrome of obstructive sleep apnea (OSAS) in children is a distinct, yet somewhat overlapping disorder with the condition that occurs in adults, such that the clinical manifestations, polysomnographic findings, diagnostic criteria and treatment approaches need to be considered in an age-specific manner. Childhood OSAS has now become widely recognized as a frequent disorder and as a major public health problem. Pediatric OSAS, particularly when obesity is concurrently present, is associated with substantial end-organ morbidities and increased healthcare utilization. Although adenotonsillectomy (T&A) remains the first line of treatment, evidence in recent years suggests that the outcomes of this surgical procedure may not be as favorable as expected, such that post-T&A polysomnographic evaluation may be needed, especially in high-risk patient groups. In addition, incorporation of nonsurgical approaches for milder forms of the disorder and for residual OSAS after T&A is now being investigated.
authors.affiliation: Sleep Disorders Center, Dana Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel. tauman@tasmc.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Riva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tauman
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gozal
mesh_terms: D000233:Adenoidectomy; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D017286:Polysomnography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome