Some infants with Down syndrome spontaneously outgrow their obstructive sleep apnea.

INTRODUCTION

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is commonly seen in children with Down syndrome (DS). Though some infants with DS spontaneously outgrow their OSA, it is not clear how often this occurs or how this should affect the choice between surgical and nonsurgical treatment.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of all infants with DS younger than 2 years referred over a 66-month period to Children's Hospital Boston for sleep study because of suspected OSA.

RESULTS

A total of 16 of 29 children studied were diagnosed with OSA; 6 were treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), 3 of whom were found 5, 5, and 10 months later on repeat sleep study to have no further evidence of OSA.

CONCLUSION

A significant number of infants with DS and OSA may outgrow it within several months. This has implications for treatment choice, especially between CPAP and tracheostomy, because it may only be needed for a short time.