Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026
05:16
Author Spotlight: Enhancing Dental Pulp Research with Improved Mouse Models
Published on: October 27, 2023
1.8K
Growth and mouth breathers
Mario Morais-Almeida1, Gustavo Falbo Wandalsen2, Dirceu Solé2
1Centro de Alergia dos Hospitais CUF, Lisbon, Portugal; Sociedade Portuguesa de Alergologia e Imunologia Clínica, Lisbon, Portugal.
Jornal De Pediatria
|January 7, 2019
Summary
Mouth breathing in children can lead to growth disorders and reduced growth hormone. Early assessment and treatment of mouth breathing are crucial for addressing growth impairment in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Otolaryngology
- Allergy and Immunology
Background:
- Mouth breathing is frequently caused by enlarged tonsils or allergic rhinitis in children.
- Respiratory sleep disturbances are common in children with mouth breathing.
- Existing literature suggests a link between mouth breathing and impaired growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the connection between mouth breathing and growth disorders in pediatric populations.
- To determine if mouth breathing impacts growth hormone levels and overall growth.
- To highlight the importance of considering mouth breathing in the differential diagnosis of growth retardation.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of the MEDLINE database was conducted for studies published in the last 10 years.
- Search terms included "mouth breathing," "adenotonsilar hypertrophy," "allergic rhinitis," "sleep disturbance," and various terms related to growth impairment.
- A total of 20 relevant articles were included after initial screening of 247 identified studies.
Main Results:
- Mouth breathing is often associated with palatine and/or pharyngeal tonsil hypertrophy, with or without allergic rhinitis.
- Children with mouth breathing frequently experience respiratory sleep disorders.
- Studies indicate that mouth breathing is linked to reduced growth and diminished growth hormone release, which can be reversed with treatment.
Conclusions:
- Mouth breathing should be recognized as a potential contributor to growth retardation in children.
- Pediatricians must conduct comprehensive assessments of children presenting with mouth breathing.
- Effective clinical and/or surgical treatment of mouth breathing can lead to the normalization of growth parameters.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Assessment of the Mouth
1.2K
A thorough mouth assessment, including inspection and palpation of the lips, gums, tongue, tonsils, uvula, and pharynx, is crucial in detecting potential health issues. Diseases ranging from oral cancer to systemic conditions like diabetes could be identified early through careful oral examination. This article provides a detailed guide on conducting a comprehensive mouth assessment.
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.
1.2K
00:57Population Growth
28.4K
Population size is dynamic, increasing with birth rates and immigration, and decreasing with death rates and emigration. In ideal conditions with unlimited resources, populations can increase exponentially, which plots as a J-shaped growth rate curve of population size against time. This type of curve is characteristic of newly-introduced invasive species, or populations that have suffered catastrophic declines and are rebounding.
28.4K
02:36Meristems and Plant Growth
49.5K
Plants grow throughout their lives; this is called indeterminate growth, and it distinguishes plants from most animals. Although certain parts of plants stop growing (e.g., leaves and flowers), others grow continuously—like roots and stems.
49.5K
01:29Exponential Growth
50
Bacterial populations exhibit exponential growth when conditions such as nutrient availability and temperature are favorable. In this phase, cells reproduce through binary fission, where each cell divides into two identical daughter cells. This process causes the population to double at regular intervals, resulting in a growth rate that is directly proportional to the current number of cells. As the population increases, the number of new cells formed during each generation also grows, creating...
50
01:27Relationship Growth
218
Interpersonal relationships progress through stages, beginning with awareness and moving toward mutuality, where emotional connections deepen. While many relationships remain at moderate levels of mutuality, deeper connections form through self-disclosure, trust, and interdependence.Self-DisclosureSelf-disclosure involves revealing personal information, starting with surface-level details and gradually progressing to more intimate content. As trust grows, individuals feel more comfortable...
218
03:02Primary and Secondary Growth in Roots and Shoots
60.5K
Vascular plants, which account for over 90% of the Earth’s vegetation, all undergo primary growth—which lengthens roots and shoots. Many land plants, notably woody plants, also undergo secondary growth—which thickens roots and shoots.
60.5K