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| EDITORIAL |
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| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 1
| Issue : 2 | Page : 25 |
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A joint effort on children with obstructive apnea by Asian pediatric pulmonologists
Kin-Sun Wong
Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| Date of Web Publication | 30-Jun-2017 |
Correspondence Address:
Kin-Sun Wong
Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan
Taiwan
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/prcm.prcm_14_17
How to cite this article:
Wong KS. A joint effort on children with obstructive apnea by Asian pediatric pulmonologists. Pediatr Respirol Crit Care Med 2017;1:25 |
How to cite this URL:
Wong KS. A joint effort on children with obstructive apnea by Asian pediatric pulmonologists. Pediatr Respirol Crit Care Med [serial online] 2017 [cited 2023 May 29];1:25. Available from: https://www.prccm.org/text.asp?2017/1/2/25/209260 |
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a relatively common disease that affects 1%–5% of prepubertal children. While standard management guideline has been developed for the use in developed countries in the USA and Europe, management of childhood OSAS in Asia has not been standardized. In the current issue of Pediatric Respirology and Critical Care Medicine, Ng et al. published a position statement on behalf of the Asian Paediatric Pulmonology Society (APPS) for management of children with OSAS in Asia based on the expert panel convened by APPS. This up-to-date statement covered the most important issues of OSAS regarding diagnosis, conservative treatment, adenotonsillectomy, orthodontic treatment, and orofacial myofunctional therapy. This report also witnesses the joint effort of pediatric pulmonologists in Asia to achieve a consensus for the care of children with OSAS. I am sure that this position statement provides a useful guide for the primary pediatricians, pediatric pulmonologists, and pediatric sleep specialists.
Nathan reported the findings of a prospective study on the relationship between viral infection in lower respiratory infection and hospitalization for children below 2 years of age who visited the emergency department of a tertiary general hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The authors found that female sex, nursery attendance, and lack of breastfeeding were significantly associated with admissions but not viral infection. The most common viruses identified in the emergency department were respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human rhinovirus, and parainfluenza virus in the study. This study confirmed the importance of RSV even in tropical climate.
In the review of clinical aspects of pediatrics OSAS, Guilleminault et al. reviewed the historical developments of recognition of OSAS. Then, they summarized the physiology of upper airway collapse during sleep. The authors emphasized the variable presenting complaints at different ages of children with OSAS. Accurate diagnosis is the key to successful treatment of OSAS; the level of airway obstruction should be vigilantly looked for. Finally, the pathogenesis of OSA due to orofacial growth at young age, related to the functioning of sucking, swallowing, speech development, and nasal breathing, were emphasized. To decrease morbidity of pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea, early recognition and timely treatment remains the goal of therapeutic management.
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