UALA LUMPUR, April 9 — Snoring among children should not be dismissed as a minor habit as it may signal underlying sleep-related breathing disorders that can impair physical growth, cognitive development and behaviour.
Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City (SMC) paediatric respiratory consultant Dr Noor Zehan Abdul Rahim told Bernama that breathing problems in children can be grouped into several categories, including primary respiratory conditions such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, cardiac-related causes and sleep-disordered breathing arising from airway-related conditions such as laryngomalacia or enlarged adenoids and tonsils.
She said raising awareness of sleep-disordered breathing is crucial as the condition presents in various forms and is often associated with multiple comorbidities.
She noted that children aged six to nine are at a higher risk due to growth-related changes in airway anatomy, in which the risk is further increased by factors such as obesity, underlying prematurity and asthma.
“The global prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in children is about one to six per cent. However, in Malaysia, data is still limited, although cases of sleep-disordered breathing are present,” she said.
While snoring is common, Dr Noor Zehan said persistent snoring occurring three to four nights a week over a period of about three months might indicate a more serious condition requiring medical attention.
She noted that snoring results from partial airway obstruction during sleep. This could reduce oxygen supply to the brain and disrupt sleep cycles, thereby affecting a child’s development, including growth hormone secretion, metabolism, and learning processes.
Furthermore, untreated sleep-disordered breathing can also lead to issues with facial development and dental alignment due to prolonged mouth breathing.
“They may develop what is described as adenoidal facies, which is a long facial structure that may shift how the teeth align,” the doctor explained.
Parents are advised to seek medical advice if they observe symptoms such as persistent snoring, breathing difficulties, frequent waking at night, or daytime lethargy.
Dr Noor Zehan said treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include managing allergic rhinitis or asthma and referral to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist for further evaluation.
“If it is due to allergic rhinitis, it needs to be treated. If they have enlarged tonsils or adenoids, they should see an ENT specialist to determine whether removal is necessary.
“If they are affected by conditions such as obesity, they may require additional support at night, such as CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) or BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure),” she said.
Dr Noor Zehan also stressed the importance of a conducive sleeping environment, recommending a comfortable room temperature of around 25 degrees Celsius, proper ventilation, and a clutter-free space.
The expert also highlighted the need for public awareness and early intervention, including promoting good sleep hygiene among children and teenagers to improve productivity.
“Awareness among the students in school is paramount so that they are aware that adequate sleep improves productivity,” the doctor concluded, noting that the message is timely in conjunction with World Breathing Day, observed annually on April 11 to promote greater awareness of respiratory health.
