Children unfortunately can also be affected by sleep apnea in the same troubling ways that it affects adults. It is more usual for it to generally affect children under the ages of three to six. It is of great concern to parents that it could leave children with ongoing problems, such as learning difficulties, mood and behaviour problems and poor interactive abilities if the condition is not noticed and remains undiagnosed and untreated, and, in worse cases, this could lead to high blood pressure and heart problems.CausesSleep apnea which is a common sleep disorder happens when someone stops breathing for an average of 30 seconds and is caused by a blockage in the airway. The majority of cases in children result from enlarged tonsils, adenoids or even Infection.Due to facial or structural deformities, some children suffer from narrowing of the airway. It is sometimes the case that children are born with a smaller opening of the throat, even a smaller jaw, or enlarged tongue.Craniofacial syndromes such as Down Syndrome, Pierre Robin Sequence and Treacher Collins Syndrome are disorders which can also cause facial deformities. These syndromes cause structural deformities and poor muscle tone in the jaw mouth and nose which would leave the children open to a greater risk of developing sleep apnea.Tumours found in the airways can also cause sleep apnea as the tumour diminishes the muscle tone and therefore causes an obstruction.Although rarer in children, obesity can also be a cause or a contributory factor as the fatty cell that amass in the throat tissue result in the narrowing of the airway.SymptomsIn children as in adults, loud and heavy snoring is always the first symptom of sleep apnea. It is very important for parents to look for other symptoms of the disorder as well, because in the case of children, roughly 10 ' 20% of them snore at some point even if they do not have the condition.Some other symptoms are mouth breathing, bedwetting awkward sleeping positions, excessive sweating when asleep, hyperactivity, excessive tiredness, short-term attention span and aggressiveness, and behavioural problems.Some children may also do poorly in school, and have learning, or growing problems relative to their age.Children with sleep apnea are usually thin and may experience weight loss, unlike adults who have the tendency to get overweight This is because obstruction in the airway, especially in the throat and nose area, makes eating quite uncomfortable. Due to abnormal breathing patterns, the burning of calories is also at a higher rate.TreatmentsAs the enlargement of tonsils and adenoids is the common cause of sleep apnea in children, tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, where enlarged tonsils and adenoids are removed, are the usual treatment.The continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine would most probably be prescribed to those who wouldn't benefit from such surgeries or perhaps may go on to develop complications after going through them. This is a nose mask which delivers pressurized air and keeps airways open and is connected to a machine. Parents need to realize that CPAP may be a little uncomfortable to use, but with some adjustments will usually allow the children to get to use to it.Sleep apnea in children is very worrying for parents and children alike and requires immediate medical attention. If it is suspected that their child has this sleep disorder, parents must act promptly and arrange to see the doctor or a sleep specialist. The severity of the case and identification of treatments will be based on the symptoms, medical evidence of enlargement of tonsils and adenoids, and sleep test results.