Introduction to sleep-disordered breathing in children

Sleep-disordered breathing in children can be related to either:

• obstructive sleep apnoea—occurs in up to 5% of children
• central sleep apnoea—less common than obstructive sleep apnoea.

Overnight sleep studies (polysomnograms) may be required to diagnose sleep-disordered breathing in children. They are performed in the same way as for adults but should be carried out in a specialised paediatric sleep laboratory. Separate scoring criteria are used for infants and children to account for developmental and maturational changes that occur throughout childhood (including alterations in sleep structure, respiratory rate and breathing patterns).