Apnea
What is it?
Newborns who do not take at least one breath in
20 seconds have apnea. This slowed breathing is
often caused by prematurity (the brain doesn't
"remember" to take a breath), although
illness can also be responsible. These babies may
turn blue from lack of oxygen and seem
particularly sleepy. To accurately diagnose apnea,
doctors monitor a baby's breathing rate in the
NICU and may order a pneumogram, which involves
attaching the baby to several monitors and
observing him for about 8 to 12 hours.
Who gets it?
Anemia, the most common form of blood disorder,
limits the blood's ability to carry sufficient
oxygen throughout the body. In a healthy person,
disc-shaped red blood cells contain hemoglobin,
a red pigment that carries oxygen to the tissues
and carries away the waste material, carbon
dioxide. Anemia occurs when the overall number of
red blood cells decreases or when the amount of
hemoglobin available in those cells decreases.
What Causes it?
The word apnea comes from the Greek word
meaning "without wind." Although it's
perfectly normal for everyone to experience
occasional pauses in their breathing, apnea can be
a problem when breathing stops for 20 seconds or
longer.
There are three types of apnea: obstructive,
central, and mixed.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptom is snoring; others
include labored breathing while sleeping, gasping
for air, sleeping in unusual positions, and
changes in color. Because obstructive sleep apnea
may disturb sleep patterns, these children may
also show continued sleepiness after awakening in
the morning, and tiredness and attention problems
throughout the day. Sometimes this can affect
school performance. One recent study suggests that
some children diagnosed with AD/HD actually have
attention problems in school because of disrupted
sleep patterns caused by obstructive sleep
apnea.
What is the treatment?
Treatment for obstructive apnea involves
keeping the throat open to aid air flow, such as
with adenotonsillectomy (surgical removal of the
tonsils and adenoids) or continuous positive
airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP involves having the
child wear a nose mask while sleeping.
Self Care Tips
If you suspect that your child has apnea, call
your child's doctor. If you suspect that your
child is experiencing an ALTE, call 911
immediately.
Most cases of apnea can be treated or managed
with surgery,
medications, monitoring devices, or sleep centers.
Many cases of apnea go away on their own.
This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference
guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written
by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your
physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice.
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