Referral criteria for children with obstructive sleep apnoea

referral of children with obstructive sleep apnoea

Referrals are usually indicated in the following patients:

• children with symptoms of persistent snoring plus any of the daytime or night time features of obstructive sleep apnoea together with clinical evidence of adenotonsillar hypertrophy
• children with features of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and an underlying condition (e.g. - congenital or syndromal problems
• obese children with OSA (1)

The following children with suspected OSA must be referred paediatric respiratory assessment before further management:

• unclear or inconsistent diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea
• age <2 years
• weight <15 kg
• Down's syndrome
• cerebral palsy
• hypotonia or neuromuscular disorders
• craniofacial anomalies
• mucopolysaccharidoses
• obesity (body mass index >95th centile for age and sex)
• important comorbidity such as congenital heart disease, chronic lung disease
• residual symptoms after adenotonsillectomy (1)

Reference:

• (1) Powell S et al. Paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea. BMJ. 2010;340:c1918