Sleep-disordered breathing in young children may vary with the season, U. S. researchers have said.

It has been reported that Edward Bixler of Pennsylvania State University looked at the monthly prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing, which covers a number of conditions including obstructive sleep apnea, upper-airway resistance syndrome and snoring, and found significant variation. They found the rates of mild forms of sleep-disordered breathing increased from June to September and decreased from September through November.

Bixler said in a statement, "What surprised us most was the dramatic impact that season had on the prevalence of sleep disordered breathing. The results are significant because they underscore the importance of evaluating a child's sensitivity to seasonal allergies when diagnosing and treating a child for seasonal disordered breathing."

Bixler and colleagues looked at a random sample of 687 elementary school children. The children's parents completed a brief questionnaire and each child was evaluated between June and November during an overnight sleep study in the sleep laboratory. (With Inputs from Agencies)