International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology
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Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol. · Feb 2019
Obstructive sleep apnea in children: How it affects parental psychological status?
The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children on maternal and paternal anxiety. ⋯ The results of our study suggest that obstructive sleep apnea in children is a disturbing symptom for parents and is associated with a significant level of anxiety that depends on OSA severity. After the surgical treatment of the children (adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy), the anxiety level of both parents decreased. We suggest that preoperative psychological intervention should be considered in selected cases for mothers and fathers of children with severe OSA in order to diminish the symptoms of anxiety that can compromise normal postoperative recovery in operated children.