Sleep apnea in eight children

Eight children, 5 to 14 years of age, were diagnosed by means of nocturnal polygraphic monitoring with a sleep apnea syndrome similar to that seen in adults. Excessive daytime sleepiness, decrease in school performance, abnormal daytime behavior, recent enuresis, morning headache, abnormal weight, and progressive development of hypertension should suggest the possibility of a sleep apnea syndrome when any of these symptoms is associated with loud snoring interrupted by pauses during sleep. Surgery may eliminate the clinical symptomatology.