Related Experiment Videos
Failure to thrive due to obstructive sleep apnea
Clinical Pediatrics
|February 1, 1987
Insights
Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can cause failure to thrive. Treating OSA with adenotonsillectomy led to significant catch-up growth in two children, highlighting OSA
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Sleep Medicine
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Failure to thrive (FTT) is a complex condition in pediatrics.
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is increasingly recognized as a contributing factor to FTT.
Observation:
- Two pediatric patients presented with persistent subnormal growth velocities for height and weight.
- Both children were underweight for their height prior to diagnosis.
- Clinical features suggested underlying airway obstruction.
Findings:
- Diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea was confirmed in both cases.
- Adenotonsillectomy effectively relieved airway obstruction.
- Post-surgical intervention resulted in prompt catch-up growth and normalization of growth velocities.
Implications:
- Obstructive sleep apnea should be a key consideration in the differential diagnosis of pediatric FTT.
- Timely diagnosis and surgical management of OSA can reverse growth deficits.
- This case series underscores the critical link between pediatric sleep-disordered breathing and nutritional/growth outcomes.
Abstract:
The clinical features of two children with failure to thrive due to obstructive sleep apnea are presented. Both patients had subnormal growth velocities for height and weight for many months before diagnosis; both were underweight for height. Relief of their airway obstruction by adenotonsillectomy was promptly followed by catch-up growth and subsequent normal growth velocities. Obstructive sleep apnea should be considered in the differential diagnosis of failure to thrive in children.