| Check-Up: Is snoring a sign of a more serious health problem? |
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Snoring could be a sign that a child’s airway is narrowed, which is most commonly caused by enlarged tonsils and adenoids. It also could indicate breathing problems during sleep, such as sleep apnea — a condition in which the airway repeatedly collapses or is blocked during sleep, causing irregular or shallow breathing. When children don’t get enough air, their bodies respond by waking up, which can disrupt their sleep. Not being able to get a good night’s sleep can impact their daytime attention, behavior and learning. Habitual snoring, restless sleep, daytime behavior problems, inattention or sleepiness can signal a possible sleep and breathing problem and the need for a physician assessment. Studying Childhood Snoring Problems I joined forces with researchers at six other leading children’s hospitals across the nation to investigate the best way to treat snoring in children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids; Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Children’s Hospital of Boston, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Cardinal Glennon’s Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, and Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY. Together, we are conducting the Childhood Adenotonsillectomy (CHAT) study. Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, the randomized, controlled trial will look at health outcomes in snoring children whose doctors think they may benefit from having their tonsils and adenoids removed. The study will compare early surgical removal of adenoids and tonsils to a more conservative approach — watchful waiting with supportive care, followed by reassessment for surgery in seven months. The CHAT study will measure the neurocognitive and respiratory outcomes in children who have their tonsils and adenoids removed compared with children who have not had them removed during the same time period. This information will be used to determine who benefitted the most from surgery and identify individuals who may need additional follow-up treatment. It also will show whether surgery helps children act and feel better during the day compared with watchful waiting and other types of supportive care. Across the country, very good pediatricians and pediatric ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists have very different views on how to manage snoring and obstructive symptoms. This study seeks to determine the best practices when looking at tonsils and adenoids in snoring children. |
According to Dr. Carol Rosen, Medical Director of