APNEA IN CHILDREN

Course overview

APNEA CAN BE DEFINED AS THE CESSATION OF RESPIRATORY EFFORT LASTING MORE THAN 20 SECONDS, OR LASTING A SHORTER DURATION BUT ACCOMPANIED BY BRADYCARDIA OR CYANOSIS. APNEIC EPISODES ARE MORE COMMON IN INFANTS AND PREMATURE BABIES, BUT THEY CAN OCCUR AT ANY AGE. ALTHOUGH THERE IS CONSIDERABLE OVERLAP BETWEEN CAUSES OF APNEA IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN, THE ETIOLOGY AMONG OLDER CHILDREN IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF ADULTS. APNEA CAN BE A MANIFESTATION OF A VARIETY OF SERIOUS CONDITIONS, AND AT THE OUTSET SHOULD BE DIFFERENTIATED FROM BENIGN CAUSES SUCH AS BREATH-HOLDING SPELLS AND SNORING. THIS ACTIVITY EXAMINES APNEA IN CHILDREN AND WHEN IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ON DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS AND HOW TO PROPERLY EVALUATE FOR IT. THIS ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.