Question
What are the effects of snoring in children?
Answer
Snoring in children is primarily caused by the hypertrophy of the adenoids and tonsils. This leads to obstruction of the respiratory tract, which in turn affects the quality of the child’s sleep. Over time, this can result in edema and hypertrophy of the pharyngeal mucosa, causing a narrowing of the pharynx and potentially leading to apnea. This not only wakes the child up, disrupting normal deep sleep, but may also severely threaten cardiovascular and pulmonary function. Additionally, snoring may be accompanied by secretory otitis media, affecting hearing. Chronic nasal congestion and mouth breathing can lead to abnormal facial bone development, forming what is known as the “adenoid face.” Currently, the treatment for snoring in children mainly involves surgical removal of the adenoids and tonsils to eliminate upper airway obstruction. The surgery is typically performed using endoscopic techniques, allowing doctors to clearly see the entire adenoids and use specialized adenoid cutting knives for removal, thereby accurately removing the adenoids without damaging surrounding normal tissue. Since the surgical field is clear and medication is applied thoroughly, complications are rare. Moreover, by using grinding and drilling to remove part of the tonsils, snoring is completely eliminated while preserving the function of the tonsils. The surgery is also very precise and thorough, preventing complications from occurring.