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AAP News Vol. 14 No. 4 April 1998, p. 2 © 1998 American Academy of Pediatrics
A child with a loud snore and difficulty breathing could have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), an oftenmissed diagnosis, according to a Baltimore review. OSA can occur in neonates through adolescents, but peaks between 2 to 6 years of age, therefore a sleep history should be part of every health supervision visit, the review stated. Pediatricians are encouraged to ask parents if their children snore and to look for OSA symptoms such as upper airway abnormalities, including adenotonsillar hypertrophy and craniofacial anomalies. Neuromuscular disease also is a risk factor.
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