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Your Guide to Sleep Disorders.
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Many people think of sleep apnea as a disease of adulthood, and especially of adults over fifty years of age. It's also thought to be more prevalent in men. But, the truth is, anyone can get sleep apnea, from premature infants to senior citizens.

PREEMIES

In the premature infant, central apnea is the most common. This is the apnea caused when messages from the brain never reach the nerves and muscles that control breathing. The respiratory center in a premature infant's brain is not yet mature. It's common for them to have brief episodes of apnea while sleeping.

If the problem is deemed to be serious, medication or a ventilator may be ordered. As the baby gets older, the brain matures and he/she begins to breathe normally. Usually the problem ends when the infant reaches the actual due date for birth.

INFANT APNEA

Infant sleep apnea applies to infants over 37 weeks of age. This can be a frightening experience for parents. Their baby stops breathing while asleep, becomes very pale or even bluish in color, and the muscles are limp. These episodes of sleep apnea in an infant are often mistaken for SIDS, and there may be a connection, although this has not been proven as yet.

The major difference is that a child with sleep apnea can usually be revived. In fact, the baby may suffer several episodes of apnea before he outgrows the syndrome. In the case of SIDS, there is little or no hope of saving the infant.

IS APNEA INHERITED?

It is not uncommon to find sleep apnea in the family history of infants with either sleep apnea or SIDS. Other disorders that may also appear in the family history are asthma, bronchitis and allergies that attack the respiratory system.

APNEA IN CHILDREN

Apnea is also found in children. The most common age for this is from two to six years but it does continue through or strike children right into adolescence and even into the older teen years. It's characterized by the usual symptoms - loud snoring, cessation of breathing during sleep, restless sleep - but may also cause, because of sleep deprivation, poor performance in school, both in academics and other activities, such as sports.

Again, there seems to be a link to a family history of the syndrome. This may be from inherited physical characteristics. Apnea is most common in adults who are obese or have a very large, bulky neck. If the child inherits these characteristics, of course there is a possibility of getting apnea. Downs syndrome children often have these characteristics and, therefore, are at risk of becoming victims of sleep apnea.

One cause of apnea in children may be enlarged tonsils and adenoids. The disorder often disappears after these obstruction are removed. Also, watch the child's diet to avoid obesity. Unfortunately, sleep apnea that has apparently been cured or disappears during childhood may reappear in the adult years.