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

¹ From the Department of Pediatrics, Eudowood Division of Pediatric Respiratory Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore
² From the Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore

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%; x²=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.

Key Words: allergy • habitual snoring • obstructive sleep apnea syndrome • pediatrics

Submitted on December 18, 1995
Accepted on August 5, 1996

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