Sleep apnoea in infants

Abstract 

Infancy is characterized by an instability of the control of breathing. Apnoeas of short duration are common, mostly central and more frequent during rapid eye movement sleep. Obstructive apnoeas are rare in healthy infants. Triggering factors, such as respiratory syncytial virus infection, can increase the frequency and duration of apnoeas. Upper airway problems are responsible for obstructive apnoeas as well as for episodes of partial airway obstruction or upper airway resistance syndrome. In some infants, apparent life-threatening events have been related to upper airway anomalies. Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome, a rare respiratory control disorder, may present with apnoeas. Polysomnography is the gold standard for diagnosing sleep-disordered breathing in infants. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure is feasible in infants, and the early diagnosis of abnormal breathing during sleep is of critical importance for neurocognitive development in infants.

Keywords: upper airways, obstructive apnoeas, apparent life-threatening event, polysomnography, continuous positive airway pressure

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• f1 Correspondence to: CG. Tel: +33-1-40-03-47-38; Fax: +33-1-40-03-47-70; E-mail: claude.gaultier@rdb.ap-hop-paris.fr