This book offers a very comprehensive guide to sleep disorders in childhood. It is presented in six sections covering the normal upper airway, sleep during development, diagnostic assessment of sleep and breathing in children, sleep disordered breathing in children, the consequences of sleep disordered breathing in children and the treatment of sleep disordered breathing.
The chapters are written by specialists in the field and represent a good review of the current literature and evidence.
It is a book written by and most suitable for paediatricians with a specialist interest in sleep disorders in children but there are several chapters of use and interest to the ENT surgeon. These include the chapters dealing with co-morbidities such as obesity, Down syndrome, cranio-facial syndromes, asthma and gastro-oesophageal reflux. Alternative treatments to adenotonsillectomy are presented, including the use of steroids and leukotriene modifiers, CPAP, mandibular advancement devices and diaphragmatic pacing.
I would rate this book at 4/5 but, at £180, I would not recommend it for personal purchase. It would make a very useful addition to the hospital library.
