Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that primarily affects adults, however children are susceptible to this disorder as well. Infant sleep apnea can be extremely alarming for new parents. Nothing is more terrifying than waking to the sound of your infant gasping for air or not breathing at all. However, there are precautions that can be taken to help ensure that your infant has a healthy and happy childhood.

What is Infant Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea in infants is very similar to the same disorder that millions of adults suffer from. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when breathing is paused due to an obstructed airway. These episodes can either be caused by a partial reduction in breathing, also known as a hypopnea or a complete pause in breathing called an apnea. Most often, these episodes occur during REM sleep. Some infants may suffer from central sleep apnea, which is a rarer condition in which the body stops its efforts to breathe, usually as a result of a problem with the brain or heart. Some infants possess a mixture of both obstructive and central sleep apneas. Regardless of what kind of sleep apnea that you may thing your infant has, you need to be sure to talk to their pediatrician right way. Untreated sleep apnea can have horrible effects on your child’s health.

Effects of Sleep Apnea on Your Infant

The breathing problems caused by sleep apnea can cause several problems for your infant. Most commonly this includes a lack of oxygen in the blood which is known as hypoxemia. When your infant isn’t getting enough oxygen it can be extremely dangerous. A lack of oxygen to the brain, liver, heart, and other organs can cause serious damage to your child’s developing body. Sleep apnea may also cause your infant to develop bradycardia, a condition which indicates an abnormally slow heartbeat. In extreme cases, your infant may not be able to begin breathing again on their own and may need to be resuscitated.

Causes of Sleep Apnea in Infants

Sleep apnea in infants is caused primarily by two different issues. It is typically either a developmental issue that is a result of an immature brainstem or it can be a secondary problem that stems from another medical issue.

It is normal for infants to show signs of some instability as part of their normal development. Even healthy babies can show instances of brief sleep apnea. The important thing is to pay attention to see if the pause in breathing is an isolated event or if it occurs frequently. Also pay attention to how long the cessation of breathing lasts.

Obstructive sleep apnea is very rare in a healthy infant. However, if you notice prolonged pauses in breathing lasting longer than 20 seconds, patterns of pauses that last less than 20 seconds, or problems such as low oxygen or a slow heartbeat you’ll want to talk to your child’s physician right away.

Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea in Infants

While anyone can have sleep apnea, there are certain risk factors that could increase the chances that your infant will have the sleeping disorder. Small, premature infants are very likely to have infant sleep apnea, though it has also been found that larger premature babies can exhibit signs of sleep apnea as well.

Generally speaking, sleep apnea occurs in about 84% of infants that weigh less than 2.2 pounds. This rate decreases depending on how much the infant weighs. For infants weighing less than 5.5 pounds their risk of having sleep apnea is about 25%. Sleep apnea rarely presents in full-term newborns regardless of size.

In premature infants, sleep apnea usually presents itself in the first week of life, but rarely on the first day. There are a number of other health conditions that can cause sleep apnea in infants or worsen the condition including acid reflux, anemia, infection, lung disease, metabolic disorders, neurological problems, seizures, or a small upper airway. Other things such as anesthesia and other medications can also cause or worsen sleep apnea.

Treatment for Infant Sleep Apnea

Infants who suffer from sleep apnea may need to be provided with breathing support by a machine. They may also need to be put on medication depending on their specific case. These are both short-term treatment options because the apnea tends to resolve as the child grows. In 98% of premature infants the sleep apnea completely resolves itself when they reach 40 weeks post conception. In some cases, where the infants were born at fewer than 28 weeks after conception they may have sleep apnea that persists longer.

Thankfully, long term complications are very rare for most infants that exhibit signs of sleep apnea.

If you have any questions about infant sleep apnea, please contact Mark Levy DDS at (614) 777-7350.