Sleep disordered breathing in infants and children: A review of the literature

The objective of this report was to review the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in children and infants. English peer-reviewed SDB literature identified by MEDLINE and a manual search conducted between 1999 and 2006 was selected. The keywords used for the search included: (1) children; (2) sleep disorder; (3) snoring; and (4) obstructive sleep apnea. A total of 153 manuscripts was identified. A delay in treatment of SDB children may be caused by several factors and may result in serious but generally reversible problems, including: (1) impaired growth; (2) neurocognitive and behavioral dysfunction; and (3) cardiorespiratory failure. Adenotonsillectomy is the treatment of choice, and continuous positive airway pressure may be an option for patients who are not candidates for surgery or who do not respond to surgery. Minimal information is available concerning the dental treatment of these disorders. With the devastating effects sleep disorders can have on children and their families, dentists must recognize obvious symptoms and refer these patients for management by physicians.