Goldbart Aviv D
aDepartment of Pediatrics bPediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Research Laboratory cSleep-Wake Disorders Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Curr Opin Pediatr. 2015 Jun;27(3):329-33. doi: 10.1097/MOP.0000000000000218.
To reflect the recent advances in the field of pediatric sleep medicine. The pediatrician will be able to define which children to refer for a sleep study and what to expect from the sleep specialist in 2015.
In the first study that compared adeno tonsillectomy (TA) to watchful waiting, TA reduced symptoms and improved children's behavior, quality of life, and polysomnographic results. Anti-inflammatory therapy for mild obstructive sleep apnea was effective and well tolerated according to a double-blind study. A retrospective study showed that it is beneficial for 80% of the patients. TA is associated with a decrease in asthma symptoms and medication utilization.
Pediatricians need to be aware of the clear benefits of tonsillectomy (including better asthma control), although anti-inflammatory therapy may improve symptoms and polysomnographic findings in children with nonsevere obstructive sleep apnea.