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Q. My kid snores at night. Should I be worried?

Dr. Zibners' Answer:

A lot of us snore. My husband snores. Loudly. Having too much soft tissue (fat and muscle) back there or having enlarged tonsils or adenoids can cause the back of the throat to vibrate with each breath, thereby making noise. Snoring isn’t usually something to worry about. Sometimes kids will start snoring with a cold or allergies and this is usually temporary. Your pediatrician may recommend an allergy medicine or nasal spray to help with the symptoms. Other times the problem is more permanent, such as with very large tonsils or if a person is overweight. If the soft tissue actually obstructs, or blocks, the airway, then the person may even stop breathing, only to start up again with a gasp a few seconds later. If this happens, the snoring is called “obstructive sleep apnea,” with apnea meaning “to stop breathing.” If a child or adult develops snoring that is so severe that it disrupts sleep or causes actual pauses in breathing, then this is a reason to seek medical treatment. As usual, if you are worried, don’t hesitate to call your pediatrician.

Dr. Lara Zibners, Dec 09, 2009

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