More often than not, we overlook snoring and dismiss it as just another cause of annoyance at night. But, know that snoring in children needs to be taken seriously. You might be wondering what causes snoring in children – well the reasons are plenty and varied. From obesity, allergies, asthma to a septum, which is deviated, the causes are never ending. However, since knowledge is power – you will find below some of the most common causes of snoring in children.
Adenoids and Tonsils
When tonsils and adenoids increase in size, they tend to become a major cause for snoring in children. What happens is that the expanded glands support the obstruction of the airways, which leads to the child’s inability to breathe properly while he is asleep. Also, if your child is overweight, then the fat around his throat might be another reason.
Abnormality of the Nose
If the airway of your child’s nostrils become out of place, then be sure that a deformity of his or her has occurred. The technical word here is “deviated septum”, it doesn’t encourage breathing through the nose. This is because, in the case of such deformity, your child’s nostril passages do not complement each other. One is smaller than the other is, and this lessens the flow of air, which ultimately leads to breathing problems.
Respiratory Trouble
This is perhaps the commonest of all causes. If the child is suffering from any nasal allergy or sinus, snoring is bound to happen. Generally, in these situations, there is a nasal block, which makes it impossible for the child to breathe properly and forces him to inhale and exhale through the mouth – which ultimately causes snoring.
Sleep Apnea
This condition can be life-threatening if not treated properly. Research says that children aged between 1 to 9 are most likely to develop this disease. Obstructive Sleep Apnea strikes your child when the air is unable to flow via the upper respiratory system. This creates breathing problems and eventually makes your child snore.
Now, that you have an idea about what causes snoring in children, consider the following solutions.
Treatment for Snoring
- Make sure your child sleeps at least eight hours during the night.
- Make sure that he avoids junk food as much as possible and embraces a healthy diet.
- Visit a doctor to check whether he has sinus problems and then follow his advice. Also, visit an ENT specialist.
- See to it that his nasal passages are cleared.
- Get rid of materials that cause allergy.
If worse comes to worst, and your child still snores then either get him an anti snore spray or go to a doctor and see if he recommends surgery to get rid of your child’s problem once and for all.