Potential New Treatment Paradigm for Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Children

Obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (OSDB) in children is frequently related to adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Previously, researchers showed that intranasal saline and intranasal corticosteroids resulted in similar rates of OSDB symptom resolution at 6 weeks.

A new trial at two pediatric referral centers enrolled 93 children (mean age, 6 years) with OSDB who did not respond to an initial 6 weeks of intranasal saline. OSDB was diagnosed by symptoms alone, and polysomnography was not required. Most children had atopy, and a quarter had overweight or obesity. Those with persistent symptoms were randomized either to continue intranasal saline or switch to intranasal mometasone for an additional 6 weeks.