"Children snoring while sleeping indicates they are sleeping soundly"—this is a common misconception among many parents, who are unaware that this seemingly ordinary "snoring" may be a "hidden killer" threatening children's respiratory health and facial development. In otolaryngology clinics, there are not a few children who, due to prolonged snoring and delayed treatment, eventually develop "adenoid facies." Today, we will uncover the connection between childhood snoring and adenoid facies, helping parents build a strong defense for their children's healthy growth.
Snoring in children may be a pathological signal
Snoring in children is not a sign of deep sleep but is often closely related to adenoid hypertrophy. Adenoids are lymphoid tissues located at the back of the nasal cavity, which physiologically enlarge between the ages of 2 and 6. However, if they become persistently swollen due to repeated colds, allergic rhinitis, or other irritations, they can block the posterior nasal passages, forcing children to breathe through their mouths. This leads to symptoms such as nighttime snoring, sleep apnea, and frequent tossing and turning, resulting in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome.
How to distinguish between physiological and pathological snoring? If a child only occasionally snores lightly during a cold or fatigue, without mouth breathing or apnea, and is in good spirits during the day, it is mostly physiological. However, if snoring occurs more than three nights a week, is loud, and is accompanied by mouth breathing, apnea, daytime sleepiness, or difficulty concentrating, it is necessary to be alert to pathological snoring and seek medical attention promptly to check for adenoid issues.
Yan Xinyu, Deputy Chief Physician of the Department of Otolaryngology at Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, and Han Jinshuai, Deputy Chief Physician, visited the popular science live broadcast room of Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine to explain the issue of children snoring while sleeping. Scan the QR code to watch the replay.
Beware of Irreversible Damage - Adenoid Facies
Many parents wonder, "The adenoids are in the nasal cavity, how can they affect facial shape?" This is actually closely related to the characteristics of a child's growth and development. The facial bones of children are not yet fully formed. When breathing through the mouth for a long time, airflow bypasses the nasal cavity and directly impacts the maxilla, causing it to elongate and the hard palate to become high-arched. At the same time, the tongue, unable to naturally rest against the palate, falls backward, further aggravating airway obstruction. This also leads to restricted development of the mandible, misaligned teeth, thickened and everted lips, and a dull gaze—these are the typical manifestations of "adenoid facies."
What is more concerning is that the formation of adenoid facies occurs "quietly"—it typically requires long-term mouth breathing for 6 months to 1 year. Once formed, the facial bone development is largely fixed after the age of 12, making it difficult to recover through natural growth. Improvement may require orthodontic or orthognathic surgery in adulthood, leaving the child with lifelong aesthetic concerns.
Not only appearance, snoring harms "inner health"
Adenoid facies is not the only harm; long-term hypoxia can also affect the overall development of the child.
Growth and development retardation:Nighttime is the peak period for growth hormone secretion, and sleep interruptions and hypoxia caused by snoring can directly inhibit growth hormone secretion, making children shorter and lighter than their peers.
Intellectual development is affected:Long-term brain hypoxia can lead to children's inattention, memory decline, slower reaction, and even affect academic performance;
Decreased immunity:Adenoid hypertrophy is prone to cause recurrent rhinitis, sinusitis, and otitis media, forming a vicious cycle of "infection-hypertrophy-more susceptible to infection," leading to frequent illnesses in children.
Scientific Response: From Early Detection to Standardized Treatment
Facing pediatric snoring and adenoid facies, early detection and early intervention are key. Parents can protect their children's health through three steps:
Daily observation:Focus on whether the child breathes through the mouth, snores, or experiences breath-holding during sleep; whether they frequently rub their nose or clear their throat during the day; and whether there are early facial changes such as "buck teeth" or "thick lips."
Timely inspection:When suspecting a child has issues, take them to an otolaryngology department as soon as possible. Use nasal endoscopy to determine the extent of adenoid hypertrophy, and if necessary, conduct sleep monitoring to assess the severity of hypoxia.
Standardized Treatment:If the adenoid hypertrophy is mild and symptoms are not obvious, conservative treatments such as nasal irrigation with saline, controlling allergic rhinitis, and using nasal corticosteroids can help alleviate the condition. If the hypertrophy is severe (blocking more than two-thirds of the posterior nasal cavity) and accompanied by significant hypoxia or facial changes, an "adenoidectomy" should be performed after evaluation by a doctor. This is a minimally invasive surgery. After the procedure, the child's breathing will improve, and most early facial issues can gradually resolve during growth and development. Additionally, it does not affect immunity, as the adenoids are not essential immune organs, and other lymphoid tissues can compensate for their function after removal.
These habits help children stay away from risks
In addition to treatment, daily prevention is also important: reduce colds and allergic stimuli: promptly treat allergic rhinitis and sinusitis to avoid repeated adenoid hyperplasia;
Adjust sleep habits:Encourage children to sleep on their side to reduce airway obstruction caused by tongue base collapse
Strengthen oral care:Let children do more oral function training such as "puffing cheeks" and "closed-mouth deep breathing" to enhance oral muscle strength and improve the habit of mouth breathing
Weight Control:Obesity can worsen airway obstruction, so it is important to avoid excessive consumption of high-sugar and high-fat foods in children and encourage appropriate physical activity to maintain a healthy weight.
Children's respiratory health and facial development are crucial to their lifelong happiness. Do not dismiss snoring as a trivial matter. Starting today, pay more attention to your child's sleep and breathing. Use scientific methods to protect their appearance and health, allowing every child to bloom with the most natural youthful face through smooth breathing
