Are Airway Obstruction Complaints Different in Adult and Pediatric Patients?

Since the common causes of nasal congestion in adults and children are different, the complaints are also different from each other.

Causes of nasal congestion in adults (according to frequency of occurrence); Anatomical disorders are allergic constitution, VMR and nasal masses. In pediatric patients, these are listed as adenoid enlargement, anatomical disorders, allergic constitution, VMR and nasal masses. Whatever the reason, nasal congestion causes major physiological changes and serious diseases in both adults and children.

Whatever the reason, nasal congestion in children and adults causes major physiological changes and leads to serious health problems. Snoring and OSAS (Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome) are the best examples of this.

What are the symptoms of OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome) in adults?

–   Snoring

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• Excessive sleepiness during the day

• Hand tremors (at night)

• Stopping breathing during sleep at night, noticed by relatives

• Sexual reluctance and sexual dysfunction

• Teeth clenching/grinding (Bruxism)

• Malocution – mouth-jaw closing problems

• Crooked and/or crowded teeth

• Temporomandibular joint disease – pain and grinding sound

• Waking up tired and without rest

• Headaches in the morning (breathing during sleep) Lack of oxygen to the brain due to stoppage)

• Waking up at night with a feeling of suffocation or palpitations

• Weakness

• Waking up to the toilet frequently at night

• Weight gain/obesity

• Memory disorders

• Poor work or school performance

• Decline in sports and athletic performance

• Depression and Irritability is another common symptom.

What are the symptoms of OSA and SDB (Sleep Disordered Breathing) in children?

OSA and SDB in children present with different symptoms and findings than in adults. These symptoms are often ignored or ignored A diagnosis has been made. In addition, the diagnosis is made late because children cannot provide information about their diseases.

OSA and SDB complaints and findings in children;

• Mouth breathing

• Snoring

• Restless sleep

• Sleep movement disorders

• Waking up frequently

• Wetting the bed at night

• Head forward posture

• Eating disorder/Weight gain

• ADD / ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

• Decreased academic performance at school

• Decrease in sports and athletic performance

• Speech disorders

• Malocclusion – mouth-jaw closing problems

• Crooked and/or crowded teeth

• Nervousness

• Headaches

While daytime fatigue and sleepiness are seen in adolescents and adults, they are very common in young children.

All of the complaints and findings mentioned above may not be present in the same patient at the same time. Each patient is different, so they present with different combinations of these symptoms and findings.

The complaints of OSA and SDB patients do not improve with more sleep. The reason for this is that due to nasal congestion, OSA and SDB that occur during sleep, not enough oxygen comes from the airways, resulting in a decrease in blood oxygen level and oxygen desaturation. Oxygen desaturation; It causes other organs, especially the heart and brain, to be under stress. In addition, oxygen desaturation in the body leads to the repeated release of "adrenaline", called the stress hormone, and can be detected as arousal in Polysomnography (SG, Sleep test). The body's constant exposure to adrenaline during sleep is also called “sympathetic dystrophy”.

 

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