Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is the medical term for people whose snoring is caused by some type of blockage of their respiratory tract. In children, the most common cause is large tonsils. They block the child's throat, leading to snoring. OSAS is usually just an annoyance, but, if severe, it can interrupt the child's sleep, resulting in daytime drowsiness.
Adenotonsillectomy (T&A), removal of the adenoids and tonsils, is the definitive treatment for children with severe cases of OSAS. A less known benefit of a T&A is a reduction in healthcare costs.
In a group of 220 children ages two to eight years old with OSAS, those who had a T&A had a total annual healthcare cost that was one-third less than the children who kept their tonsils and adenoids. Having a T&A was associated with a 60% reduction in the number of hospital admissions, a 39% reduction in emergency room visits, a 47% reduction in the number of visits to the doctor, and a 22% reduction in costs for prescription medications.
A T&A isn't for every child with OSAS. However, if the OSAS is severe, other treatments have failed, and the child is having other problems associated with OSAS, it may be the solution.
Pediatrics, 2/04.
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