Habitual snoring common in kids

Snoring frequently or always is common among school-age children, according to recent research. Moreover, habitual snoring is strongly associated with emotional and behavioural problems and poor performance in school. These problems, however, often cease when the child stops snoring.Researchers from the University Children's Hospital in Tuebingen, Germany, studied 1,129 children, out of which 114 were classified as habitual snorers, while 410 were reported to snore "never," and 605 "occasionally." It was found that habitual snorers were twice as likely to exhibit hyperactive behaviour as non-snorers, 7-times likelier to be excessively tired during the day, and nearly 10-times likelier to have problems with their peers. Habitual snoring also appeared to have an adverse effect on academic performance. Fifty nine (59 percent) of 114 habitual snorers performed poorly at school compared with 129 (32 percent) of the 410 non-snoring children. In a 1-year follow up study of a subset of the children, the researchers noted a significant improvement in behaviour - but not academic performance - among snoring children who had spontaneously stopped snoring. Considering the high prevalence of snoring and assuming its causal link to disturbed behaviour, habitual snoring seems to be a substantial public health problem in school-aged children.