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Snoring Children Twice as Likely as
Non-snorers to Have Asthma, Cough
Preschool-age children who regularly snore have a higher prevalence of asthma and nighttime
cough than children who do not snore, says a study published in the August issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP).
The study found that preschool children who snored were twice as likely as
non-snorers to have either asthma or nighttime cough, and that children who snored were more likely than
non-snorers to have coexisting asthma and nighttime cough.
Researchers from the University of Sydney and The Children's Hospital at Westmead, investigated the prevalence of snoring and the association between snoring, asthma, nighttime cough, and nasal obstruction
(hay fever) in preschool children. Using a parent-administered questionnaire, researchers gathered information from 974 children (516 boys and 458 girls) ages 2 through 5. In the children studied, 42.2 percent of children who snored also had asthma, compared to 26.4 percent of children who did not snore. In addition, 61.8 percent of children who snored reported nighttime cough, as compared to 30.5 percent of children who did not snore.
A cross-analysis indicated 86.1 percent of children with asthma who snored also experienced nighttime cough, as compared to 52.6 percent of children with asthma who did not snore, 44.1 percent of children without asthma who snored, and 22.6 percent of children reporting no asthma or snoring. Although nasal obstruction of any kind is known to cause snoring, the prevalence of asthma in children without hay fever was significantly higher in children who snored than in children who did not snore.
Overall survey results indicated 10.5 percent of children snored four or more times a week, and 28 percent suffered from asthma. There was no difference in the prevalence of snoring between genders and no association with age. In addition, the prevalence of
obesity in children who snored was slightly higher than in those who did not snore.
Source: American College of Chest Physicians
Aug. 11, 2003
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