Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: Children are not little Adults

During a child's development, several important developmental physiological sleep processes occur, and, occasionally, pathological disorders occur, which results in differences between obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in adults and children. There are major differences in sleep and respiratory physiology as well as OSA symptoms and treatment options between children and adults. Many practitioners do not realize these differences, which results in delays in the diagnosis and treatment of OSA in children. The treatment options for OSA in children are markedly different compared with adults, effective in most children. The use of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy delivered through continuous or bi-level positive airway pressure modes is successful in children and even in infants; however, there are several challenges facing parents and practitioners to achieve good compliance. The early recognition and treatment of paediatric OSA are essential to prevent deleterious consequences. This article discusses the major differences between paediatric and adult OSA and demonstrates why children are not little adults.