[Sleep apnea in a child with adenotonsillar hypertrophy (author's transl)].

A three year old with sleep apnea due to adenotonsillar hypertrophy is presented. The picture improved after treatment with antibiotics and corticosteroids, and disappeared after adenotonsillectomy. The symptomatology is studied in relation to primary alveolar hypoventilation and the "sudden death" syndrome in infants. The need of an early diagnosis is emphasized to avoid onset of an irreversible "cor pulmonale". It is suggested that aside from a probable predisposing "central" and constitutional factor in children with this syndrome, apparently there are heterogeneous electroencephalographic sleep patterns.