By Julie Bierach, KWMU
SAINT LOUIS, MO – A large study conducted by researchers at Saint Louis University shows that children with obstructed sleep apnea, or OSA, benefit from the removal of their tonsils and adenoids.
The study shows success in solving sleep problems in the 79 children who participated.
Dr. Ron Mitchell, a pediatric otolaryngologist at Saint Louis University says the results were dramatic.
"In all children who had a sleep disturbance and big tonsils and adenoids, when you remove the tonsils and adenoids, in the vast majority of children nearly 90% of sleep problems went away completely," said Mitchell, who is also the study's author. "And in all the children there was an improvement in their sleep and in their behavior and quality of life."
About 2 to 4% of children ages 4 to 6 have OSA.
Dr. Mitchell says the numbers are probably higher because parents don't recognize the problem.
"If they snore, and if they're restless and especially if they also have daytime problems, particularly attention and hyperactivity problems. Those are the children who should be seen by an ear, nose and throat physician and should be considered for a sleep study."
A sleep study is the only way to measure OSA by monitoring body function during sleep.