Parents are more familiar with the snoring of their partners, in other words, sleep apnea in adults. But unbeknownst to many, children can also suffer from sleep apnea in Singapore. Much worse, it goes undetected despite the noticeable and glaring signs. If your child is snoring, teaching them how to clear a blocked nose may not work because it may not be a symptom of nasal congestion. It could be a sign of paediatric sleep apnea.
Here are the symptoms of sleep apnea in kids:
- Bedwetting
Sleep apnea interrupts the sleep of your child due to difficulty in breathing. If it frequently happens during the entire course of the night, your child becomes exhausted. When they are tired, they are harder to wake up to urinate, ergo, the bedwetting. Visit a sleep clinic in Singapore if your child experiences enuresis.
- Daytime sleepiness
Because your kid doesn't get the right quality of sleep at night due to interruptions, expect your child to experience daytime sleepiness. Your child is less alert and more drowsy during the day. This symptom is also present for adults with sleep apnea in Singapore.
- Sleep terrors
Is your child waking up screaming or crying in a terrified state every night? It could be a sign of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea causes interrupted and fragmented sleep, leading to sleep terrors. Other kids may also experience sleep talking and sleepwalking.
- Hyperactivity
In contrast to daytime sleepiness, hyperactivity is also a sign of paediatric sleep apnea in Singapore, especially in ADHD patients. Parents may also notice their kid's decrease in focus.
- Mouth breathing
If your child is breathing through their mouth in their sleep, it may not be a sign of nasal congestion. It could be due to obstructive sleep apnea. Teaching them how to clear a blocked nose won't work since the blockage is caused by an upper airway structural problem.
Don't be complacent, and watch out for these signs.
Dr Gan Eng Cern - Sinus & ENT Specialist provides Singapore thyroid surgery and obstructive sleep apnea treatments. Visit Dr Gan Eng Cern - Sinus & ENT Specialist today.
