[Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in infants and children]

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by prolonged, generally partial, upper airway obstruction associated with hypoxemia and/or hypercapnia. Main etiological factors include hypertrophy of the tonsils and adenoids, craniofacial abnormalities with reduction in the upper airway caliber, abnormality of neural upper airway control, or a combination of these factors. Symptoms depend on age, but they always include snoring and breathing difficulties during sleep. Diagnosis of OSAS must be established early in order to prevent complications. It is suspected on history, physical examination and investigative confrontation such as nasofibroscopy and imaging. Polysomnography is the gold standard for diagnosis, scoring of the obstruction and distinction between primary snoring and obstructive breathing. Adenotonsillectomy is an effective therapy. For selected patients, craniofacial surgery may be helpful. Some children require continuous positive airway pressure or the nasopharyngeal tube. Tracheotomy is rarely indicated.