Characteristics of Sleep-Related Obstructive Respiratory Disturbances in Childhood.

Sleep-related obstructive respiratory disturbances in childhood differ significantly from the adult's obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). In contrast to adults, in children with OSAS the disturbance of the macrostructure of sleep, the increase of the number of apneas and hypopneas, and the diminution of oxygen saturation are not so prominent. Restlessness of the sleep, as reflected by movement arousals together with cortical (electroencephalograph-recorded) arousals, is important. The combination of clinical symptoms and polysomnographic parameters is necessary to diagnose OSAS in children.