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- $Unique_ID{BRK03482}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Apnea, Infantile}
- $Subject{Apnea Infantile Apnea Sleep Apnea Central Apnea Diaphragmatic Apnea
- Obstructive Apnea Upper Airway Apnea Mixed Apnea}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1986, 1988 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
-
- 190:
- Apnea, Infantile
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible the main title of the article (Infantile Apnea) is not the
- name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing to find the alternate
- names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
-
- Synonyms
-
- Apnea
- Sleep Apnea
- Central Apnea, also known as Diaphragmatic Apnea
- Obstructive Apnea, also known as Upper Airway Apnea
- Mixed Apnea
-
- General Discussion
-
- ** REMINDER **
- The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
- educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
- purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
- contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
- section of this report.
-
-
- Apnea is the transient cessation of air exchange in the lungs due to
- interruption of all respiratory effort, or by the stoppage of air flow
- through the air passages. Infantile Apnea refers to such a pause in
- respiration in children less than one year of age.
-
- Symptoms
-
- Symptoms of Infantile Apnea include temporary cessation of breathing combined
- with cyanosis (blueish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes around
- the mouth and nose) and bradycardia (a pulse rate of less than 60 per minute.
-
- Apnea is called Central Apnea or Diaphragmatic Apnea when there are no
- chest movements or passage of air through the mouth or nostrils. When there
- are chest movements but no passage of air through the mouth or nostrils, the
- disorder is known as Obstructive Apnea or Upper Airway Apnea. Central Apnea
- followed by or intermixed with an Obstructive Apnea is called Mixed Apnea.
-
- Causes
-
- The cause of Infantile Apnea is not known.
-
- Affected Population
-
- Infantile Apnea occurs in children under the age of one year. In adults, the
- disorder is known as Sleep Apnea.
-
- Related Disorders
-
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) may be caused by Infantile Apnea. Sleep
- Apnea is a fairly common sleep disorder affecting adults. (For more
- information on these disorders, choose "SIDS" as "Sleep Apnea" as your search
- terms in the Rare Disease Database.)
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- To prevent the severe consequences of Infantile Apnea, home apnea/cardiac
- monitors may be used. These devices should be purchased only under the
- advice of a physician who is knowledgeable about the safety and effectiveness
- of apnea/cardiac monitors. Treatment also includes respiratory stimulants
- such as theophylline or caffeine as well as cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- when needed.
-
- Sleep Apnea in adults may be treated with surgical procedures depending
- on its cause.
-
- Two recent studies indicate that the symptoms of Infantile Apnea may
- decrease with age.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through April
- 1989. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every
- entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please
- check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current
- information about this disorder.
-
- Resources
-
- For more information on Infantile Apnea, please contact:
-
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- P.O. Box 8923
- New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
- (203) 746-6518
-
- National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Clearinghouse
- 3520 Prospect St., Ground Floor, Suite 1
- Washington, DC 20057
- (202) 625-8410
-
- National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Foundation (NSIDSF)
- Two Metro Plaza, Suite 205
- 8240 Professional Place
- Landover, MD 20785
- (301) 459-3388
-
- NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS)
- 9000 Rockville Pike
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 496-5751
- (800) 352-9424
-
- References
-
- THE MERCK MANUAL 15th ed: R. Berkow, et al: eds; Merck, Sharp & Dohme
- Research Laboratories, 1987. P. 1864.
-
- CECIL TEXTBOOK OF MEDICINE, 18th ed.: James B. Wyngaarden, and Lloyd H.
- Smith, Jr., Eds.: W. B. Saunders Co., 1988. P. 2079.
-
-