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Signs, Causes and Treatment Option Snoring in Children
Although nearly half of all adults snore occasionally, snoring is not quite so common in children. That raises the concern for the need to be alarmed if your kids snore. Some parents ask – should my 10-month old be snoring? Others may ask – should I be worried if my child snores? According to a renowned U.S pediatric otolaryngologist, snoring for children doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem.
Notably, children with large tonsils and adenoids may often have a source of bulky tissue in the throat and that results in snoring. Therefore, the most typical cause of snoring in children has to do with excess or obstructive tissue in the throat.
Before seeking professional help for child snoring solutions, it is important to understand that the following issues may make your child or toddler snores like a pig.
- Allergies
- Throat infections
- Asthma
- Deviated septum (mainly occurs when cartilage divides the nasal passage unevenly, leaving one side narrower)
- Sleep apnea
When is snoring a cause for concern?
It is prudent to consult your pediatrician if you notice these red flags, which may signal sleep apnea:
- Your child snores mostly during sleep.
- The snoring grows noisy.
- Your child habitually sleeps with his or her mouth open, and chin or neck extended.
- You hear your child pause while breathing or gasp while sleeping.
Do not just relax and say – my baby snores and sounds congested! Seek medical attention for your child!
Are some children more vulnerable to snoring?
Most therapists will affirm that some children are more vulnerable to snoring. However, overweight children and children born prematurely are more likely to snore. Snoring is also more prevalent in infants and children with:
- Craniofacial disorders (which often occurs from birth defects like cleft palate or cleft lip, or trauma)
- Certain genetic diseases like Down syndrome
- Some neuromuscular disorders like cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy
- The sickle cell disease
What types of treatment are available?
The objective of snoring solutions is to restore restful sleep to your child. When snoring prevents this, several treatment options are available to restore normal baby breathing while sleeping.
If large tonsils or adenoids trigger the problem, your doctor or sleep therapist may recommend surgery to remove them. Alternatively, you can work with your pediatrician to help your child lose some weight if excess weight is an issue.
When the primary cause of the problem is sleep apnea, your doctor may suggest weight-loss or possibly surgery. Once sleep apnea is eliminated, 90 percent of otherwise healthy children have no further issues.