Snoring is caused by vibration or flapping of the tissues lining the upper passages. Many, if not most, children snore on occasion, and about 10% snore on most nights.
Loud and regular nightly snoring is often abnormal in an otherwise healthy child. About 1-3% of children not only snore, but also suffer from breathing problems during their sleep.
Primary snoring is snoring that is not associated with other more serious conditions such as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), in which breathing is interrupted during sleep. OSA is characterised by episodes of complete or partial upper airway obstruction during sleep, resulting in gas exchange abnormalities and arousals, causing disrupted sleep.
Untreated OSA is associated with cardiovascular complications, impaired growth, and learning and behavioural problems. Early diagnosis and treatment may decrease such complications.
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