Three Decades of Managing Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: What’s Old, What’s New

• Published in: Children (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 7; p. 919
• Main Authors: Panetti, Beatrice, Federico, Claudia, Sferrazza Papa, Giuseppe Francesco, Di Filippo, Paola, Di Ludovico, Armando, Di Pillo, Sabrina, Chiarelli, Francesco, Scaparrotta, Alessandra, Attanasi, Marina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 11.07.2025; MDPI
• Subjects: adenotonsillectomy; Airway management; Care and treatment; Clinical trials; Comorbidity; continuous positive airway pressure; Down syndrome; myofunctional therapy; Obesity; orthodontic interventions; Orthodontics; Otolaryngology; Patients; pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome; Pediatrics; Quality of life; Respiratory agents; Review; Sleep apnea; Sleep apnea syndromes; Sleep disorders; Surgery; continuous positive airway pressure; pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome; myofunctional therapy; orthodontic interventions; adenotonsillectomy
• ISSN: 2227-9067; 2227-9067
• DOI: 10.3390/children12070919

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children and adolescents is a prevalent and multifactorial disorder associated with significant short- and long-term health consequences. While adenotonsillectomy (AT) remains the first-line treatment, a substantial proportion of patients—especially those with obesity, craniofacial anomalies, or comorbid conditions—exhibit persistent or recurrent symptoms, underscoring the need for individualized and multimodal approaches. This review provides an updated and comprehensive overview of current and emerging treatments for pediatric OSAS, with a focus on both surgical and non-surgical options, including pharmacological, orthodontic, and myofunctional therapies. A narrative synthesis of recent literature was conducted, including systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and large cohort studies published in the last 10 years. The review emphasizes evidence-based indications, mechanisms of action, efficacy outcomes, safety profiles, and limitations of each therapeutic modality. Adjunctive and alternative treatments such as rapid maxillary expansion, mandibular advancement devices, myofunctional therapy, intranasal corticosteroids, leukotriene receptor antagonists, and hypoglossal nerve stimulation show promising results in selected patient populations. Personalized treatment plans based on anatomical, functional, and developmental characteristics are essential to optimize outcomes. Combination therapies appear particularly effective in children with residual disease after AT or with specific phenotypes such as Down syndrome or maxillary constriction. Pediatric OSAS requires a tailored, multidisciplinary approach that evolves with the child’s growth and clinical profile. Understanding the full spectrum of available therapies allows clinicians to move beyond a one-size-fits-all model, offering more precise and durable treatment pathways. Emerging strategies may further redefine the therapeutic landscape in the coming years.