Don’t sleep over persistent snoring in children, warn doctors to parents

NEW DELHI: For many parents, a child’s snoring is little more than a bedtime quirk — an indication of deep sleep or exhaustion after a long day. Doctors, however, warn that persistent snoring, mouth breathing and restless sleep can be red flags for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), a potentially serious condition that disrupts breathing during sleep and deprives the brain and body of oxygen.For 12-year-old Surya Pratap, what started as loud snoring gradually turned into a health crisis that went unnoticed for nearly two years. While studying at a boarding school, Surya struggled to sleep through the night, breathed almost entirely through his mouth and showed steadily declining energy levels.“For two years, our family lived in a state of constant exhaustion,” said his father, Rajesh Kumar, adding, “Watching him struggle for breath every night meant neither my wife nor I could rest. Seeing him finally breathe normally and regain his energy has been an overwhelming relief.”Doctors say Surya’s experience is far from uncommon. OSA in children is frequently overlooked, even though it disrupts the deep sleep cycles essential for growth, learning and emotional regulation. Children with the condition often wake up tired, struggle to concentrate in class, become irritable or unusually hyperactive, or show a decline in academic performance — symptoms that are frequently mistaken for behavioural problems or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).“Because he was unable to breathe properly through his nose during sleep, he could not consistently reach the deep, restorative stages of sleep that are essential for a child’s growth,” said Dr Rajesh Bhardwaj, consultant ENT specialist at MedFirst ENT Centre, who treated Surya.“Over time, the body shifts into a constant stress response. Children may appear energetic during sports or high-adrenaline activities, but remain physically and mentally exhausted for most of the day,” he added.To restore normal breathing, doctors opted for a combination of surgical procedures. Surya underwent an adenoidectomy to remove enlarged adenoids — tissue located behind the nose that can block the airway when swollen — along with septoplasty to correct a deviated nasal septum and turbinectomy to reduce swollen nasal tissue and improve airflow.“The surgery didn’t just stop the snoring; it allowed his normal development to resume,” Dr Bhardwaj said.The impact was immediate. Surya’s snoring stopped, his breathing normalised and his energy levels returned, doctors said.Health experts caution that untreated sleep apnoea can have long-term consequences beyond poor sleep. Repeated oxygen deprivation and chronic sleep disruption can contribute to stunted growth, weakened immunity, mood disturbances and developmental delays. Persistent mouth breathing may also alter facial development over time, leading to a condition known as adenoid facies, in which facial bones and teeth develop abnormally.“Snoring and mouth breathing point to adenoid enlargement and need proper evaluation,” said Prof Anupam Sibal, group medical director and senior paediatrician at Apollo Hospitals Group.Dr Neetu Jain, senior consultant in pulmonology, critical care and sleep medicine at PSRI Hospital, said poor concentration and declining school performance could signal severe paediatric sleep apnoea rather than behavioural issues.“Early treatment is essential. Prolonged low oxygen levels and disturbed sleep can affect brain development, learning and overall growth,” she said.