MEDICAID NOTICE: Lurie Children’s continues to serve all patients enrolled in Medicaid. As a safety-net hospital, we will continue providing high-quality care to every child who needs us.

AVISO SOBRE MEDICAID: Lurie Children’s continúa atendiendo a todos los pacientes inscritos en Medicaid. Como hospital perteneciente a la red de protección social, continuaremos brindando atención de alta calidad a cada niño que nos necesite.

Apnea, otherwise known as sleep apnea or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition that should not be taken lightly. OSA affects one to ten percent of children, most experiencing only mild symptoms and many outgrowing them. Symptoms may include snoring or heavy breathing during sleep, restless sleep and irritability.

Untreated, OSA can lead to failure to thrive, enuresis (bed-wetting), attention-deficit disorder, behavioral issues, poor performance in school and even cardiopulmonary disease.

It is most commonly caused by enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids, which can be easily treated surgically. Obesity is also a contributing factor, as well as certain neuromuscular diseases and some craniofacial syndromes.

A family history and physical examination, sometimes accompanied by a polysomnography, will help determine whether the issue is caused by some chronic upper airway infection, adenotonsillar hypertrophy (swollen adenoids/tonsils), or some deeper abnormality of the nose and throat. Treatment will be determined from those findings.


Make an Appointment

We offer easy online scheduling for your child's ENT needs. 

Related News

Bedwetting in Kids

Bedwetting is a common issue, affecting millions of children. Learn about causes, how to help your child stay dry at night and when to talk to a healthcare provider.

Read more