Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children

Key Points: SDB is diagnosed with increasing frequency in children and is known to affect behavior, quality of life, and school performance. In the majority of children with SDB, the diagnosis is based on the presence of daytime and night-time symptoms along with adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard for the diagnosis and quantification of SDB and used when there is doubt about the diagnosis, in high-risk groups, or when there are persistent symptoms of SDB after surgical therapy. Children with obesity, craniofacial, neuromuscular, and genetic disorders are more likely to have SDB and persistent symptoms after surgery. Adenotonsillectomy (T&A) leads to resolution of SDB in majority of children including improvements in behavior, quality of life, and school performance.