PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - S. Verhulst AU - A. Kaditis TI - Obstructive sleep apnoea in children AID - 10.1183/20734735.021810 DP - 2011 Mar 01 TA - Breathe PG - 240--247 VI - 7 IP - 3 4099 - http://breathe.ersjournals.com/content/7/3/240.short 4100 - http://breathe.ersjournals.com/content/7/3/240.full SO - breathe2011 Mar 01; 7 AB - Educational aims To understand the aetiology and pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnoea in childhood. To recognise sleep apnoea-related morbidity from the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. To get familiar with treatment indications and available therapeutic modalities for obstructive sleep apnoea in childhood. Summary Adenotonsillar hypertrophy, obesity, craniofacial anomalies and abnormal neuromotor tone are the main conditions predisposing to obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in childhood. Overnight polysomnography is the gold standard for diagnosis of the disorder. Sleep apnoeic children experience increased prevalence of enuresis, elevated blood pressure, excessive daytime sleepiness, hyperactivity, learning problems and neurocognitive dysfunction. Successful treatment of paediatric OSA requires a multifaceted approach which will address all the different conditions related to dysfunctional upper airway during sleep.