Respiratory control disorders in infancy and childhood

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J M Silvestri1, D E Weese-Mayer

  • 1Rush Children's Hospital, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.

Current Opinion in Pediatrics
|June 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

This review covers infant and childhood respiratory control disorders, including sleep apnea and hypoventilation syndromes. It highlights current research on causes, diagnosis, and management strategies for these conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Neonatology

Background:

  • Disorders of respiratory control are significant causes of morbidity and mortality in infants and children.
  • Understanding the pathophysiology and clinical manifestations is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current literature on disorders of respiratory control in pediatric populations.
  • To consolidate information on cardiorespiratory control, sleep-disordered breathing, and alveolar hypoventilation.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature review of studies on respiratory control disorders in infancy and childhood.
  • Synthesis of findings related to preterm and term infants, apparent life-threatening events, and obstructive sleep apnea.
  • Inclusion of data on alveolar hypoventilation in specific pediatric syndromes.

Main Results:

  • Current research addresses cardiorespiratory control in neonates and infants.
  • Obstructive sleep apnea etiology, diagnosis, and non-surgical treatments are detailed.
  • Alveolar hypoventilation is examined in congenital central hypoventilation syndrome, myelomeningocele, and Prader-Willi syndrome.

Conclusions:

  • This review provides an overview of the current state of knowledge on pediatric respiratory control disorders.
  • It emphasizes the importance of accurate diagnosis and tailored management strategies.
  • Further research is needed to advance understanding and treatment of these complex conditions.

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