By and large, sleep disorders are experienced by adults.
However, sleep
apnea in children or even infants is not entirely uncommon. Sleep apnea is
more prevalent in children born prematurely, but may also be caused by birth
defects, bleeding in the brain, an imbalance in body chemistry, or heart
problems.
The primary symptom of infant sleep apnea is breath
cessation lasting for upwards of 20 seconds while sleeping. Many infants
experience “periodic breathing” in which their breathing speed may fluctuate or
breathing may cease for a few seconds while they sleep. While this may seem
like sleep apnea, it is common and nothing at all to worry about.
You should discuss your child’s symptoms with a doctor if
breath cessation occurs several times during sleep and is:
- Longer than 15 seconds at a time
- Accompanied by gagging or gasping for air
- Turing your child blue or purple
These are signs of sleep apnea and need to be brought to the
attention of a physician immediately. Sleep apnea can be fatal to infants,
making it important to contact your doctor at its first symptoms.
If your infant is showing any of the signs of sleep apnea,
please contact I Hate CPAP
today to find a qualified physician in your area.