Weight Loss

• Weight loss is the easiest and least invasive treatment. If a child is obese, one of the first things a doctor may recommend is losing weight. Healthy weight can lower the risk or help reduce the severity of sleep apnea.
  
  

Medication

• Medications that help with sinus and nasal congestion can help improve sleep quality. Medications do not cure sleep apnea, but can help reduce symptoms. Decongestants, nasal steroids and antihistamines can be used to treat allergy symptoms. Central nervous system (CNS) stimulants are sometimes given to newborns with apnea.
  
  

Tonsillectomy

• Tonsillitis and adenoiditis are the most common cause of sleep apnea in children, according to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. An ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist can evaluate the child to determine if adenotonsillectomy (removal of the tonsils and adenoids) surgery is necessary. Nasal polyps may also be seen and removed. Once the surgery is complete, the airway should no longer be obstructed, improving airflow and sleep.
  
  

Breathing Support

• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can be prescribed for children whose sleep apnea did not improve with surgical treatment. The child wears the CPAP mask over his or her nose while sleeping. The mask is attached to a machine that blows air through the nasal passages and into the airway. Nasal strips can be placed on the nose at night to help improve nasal airflow. Dental appliances and tongue-retaining appliances can also be given to children to allow the tongue or mandible to hold the pharynx open. All breathing support treatments can help symptoms, but are not a cure.
  
  

Tracheotomy

• A tracheotomy can be indicated for children with neurologic deficits or craniofacial abnormalities. A tracheotomy would generally be a last resort treatment. A tracheotomy is a surgical procedure that cuts a small hole into the neck. A tube with a valve is then inserted into the hole. The valve remains closed while the child is awake, allowing them to talk. The valve is opened at night to allow airflow, bypassing the obstruction. A tracheotomy may be performed if a child has failed all other treatments and is in respiratory distress or suffering from other serious medical conditions.