High Prevalence of Allergic Sensitization in Children With Habitual Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Study objective To determine whether allergic sensitization occurs frequently in children with habitual snoring and whether allergy predicts the occurrence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in snoring children. Design Prospective study of 39 children with habitual snoring who were referred for polysomnography. Setting Pediatric pulmonary sleep disorders clinic in a tertiary referral center. Measurements Subjects underwent a complete history and physical examination. To assess for the presence of allergic sensitization, a multiantigen radioallergosorbent test (RAST) was performed on serum samples. Subjects then underwent nocturnal polysomnography to determine the presence and severity of OSAS. Results Fourteen subjects (36%) demonstrated sensitivity to allergens; this is higher than expected for the general pediatric population. The frequency of OSAS was increased in subjects with positive RAST results compared to those with negative RAST results (57% vs 40%; x 2 Blair H. The incidence of asthma, hay fever and infantile eczema in an East London Group Practice of 9145 patients. Clin Allergy. 1974; 4: 389-399 Crossref Scopus (1) Google Scholar =9.11; p<0.01). Conclusion Allergy is frequently present in pediatric patients with habitual snoring. Furthermore, the presence of allergy is associated with an increased risk of OSAS in this population. To determine whether allergic sensitization occurs frequently in children with habitual snoring and whether allergy predicts the occurrence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in snoring children. Prospective study of 39 children with habitual snoring who were referred for polysomnography. Pediatric pulmonary sleep disorders clinic in a tertiary referral center. Subjects underwent a complete history and physical examination. To assess for the presence of allergic sensitization, a multiantigen radioallergosorbent test (RAST) was performed on serum samples. Subjects then underwent nocturnal polysomnography to determine the presence and severity of OSAS. Fourteen subjects (36%) demonstrated sensitivity to allergens; this is higher than expected for the general pediatric population. The frequency of OSAS was increased in subjects with positive RAST results compared to those with negative RAST results (57% vs 40%; x 2 Blair H. The incidence of asthma, hay fever and infantile eczema in an East London Group Practice of 9145 patients. Clin Allergy. 1974; 4: 389-399 Crossref Scopus (1) Google Scholar =9.11; p<0.01). Allergy is frequently present in pediatric patients with habitual snoring. Furthermore, the presence of allergy is associated with an increased risk of OSAS in this population.