Snoring Runs in the Family

NEW YORK [Reuters, Apr 10, 2006] - Allergies, African-American race, and a parental history of snoring are all associated with an increased risk of habitual snoring in 1-year-old children, new research shows.

Fifteen percent of children in the current study were habitual snorers, defined as snoring at least three times per week, according to the report in the medical journal Chest.

"Given the extent of this problem in very young children and the negative impact of obstructive sleep-disordered breathing on the cognitive functioning of school-age children, we strongly recommend that these high-risk groups be targeted for early identification and treatment," Dr. Maninder Kalra, from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in Ohio, and colleagues emphasize.

The strongest correlates for habitual snoring include an African-American race (3.3 fold), a parental history of snoring (2.9 fold), and a positive allergy status (2.0 fold).

Snoring is the hallmark symptom of children with SDB or sleep disordered breathing. What's wrong with kids with SDB? The answer is obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Over the years, researchers have found an association between excessive daytime sleepiness and daytime cognitive and behavior problems among children, as mentioned by Dr. Kalra, author of the study above. These cognitive and troublesome behavioral problems may manifest as short attention spans, mood alterations, aggressive behavior, hyperactivity, and poor school performance.

If a child suffers from severe symptoms, the cause is usually revealed as enlarged tonsils and adenoids. In a case like this, immediate consultation with a pediatric ENT is necessary.