According to MSc. Dr. Tran Duy Phong, Department of Otolaryngology, An Sinh General Hospital, it is necessary to distinguish physiological snoring from disease-related snoring.
Snoring may appear temporarily when the child has a cold, stuffy nose, or is tired after a busy day. When the cause is improved, the child can return to normal sleep.
Conversely, if children snore frequently, the snoring is loud, accompanied by stuffy nose, breathing through the mouth, or there are pauses and then strong breathing again, parents need to pay attention. Children who do not sleep deeply and often restless are also signs of concern.
According to Dr. Phong, if children snore frequently, especially more than 3 times a week, parents should take their children to the doctor to find the cause.
Prolonged poor sleep can cause children to be tired, have difficulty waking up, be sluggish, lack concentration, forgetful, easily irritable or change behavior.
Children's sleep needs to ensure both duration and quality, children must sleep enough and deeply to ensure health," Dr. Phong shared.
When a child snores, breathes through the mouth, or has prolonged nasal congestion, the doctor usually checks the organs of the ears, nose, and throat. The nasal area is assessed for ventilation, rhinitis, sinusitis, or foreign body. In the throat, the doctor checks the tonsils, degree of hypertrophy, narrowing, or inflammation.
Ears are also checked to assess hearing ability and detect problems such as otitis media. Depending on the case, children may be prescribed nasal endoscopy to assess the area behind the nose and VA status. For children who are too young to undergo endoscopy, doctors may consider appropriate diagnostic imaging methods.
Some cases suspected of sleep apnea may need multiple sleep counts to assess sleep apnea.
