Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder that occurs when your child's breathing becomes partially or completely blocked repeatedly as your child sleeps. The condition is due to blockage of the upper airway during sleep. Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea usually differs from adult sleep apnea in several ways. For example, children often have only partially blocked airways and wake up less during sleep than do adults with sleep apnea. Problems with daytime behavior and attention span are seen in children with OSA.

Nov. 20, 2012