Diagnosis

Laboratory tests are of variable utility.

Findings of polycythaemia or
compensatory metabolic alkalosis
support the diagnosis of OSAHS but are
frequently absent in paediatric patients
Right ventricular hypertrophy on
electrocardiography, or dysfunction on
echocardiogram, are seen only in the
more severe cases
Radiographic evaluations are
helpful, but are often done awake,
upright or with the child sedated
for the procedure and do not
reliably predict the presence or
severity of upper airway
obstruction when the child is
supine and asleep
A lateral soft tissue radiograph of
the neck can identify tonsillar and
adenoid tissue
MRI, CT scan of the airway and
craniofacial anatomy, airway fl
uoroscopy or endoscopy and
cephalometric radiographs can
display airway dimensions,
dynamics and abnormal structural
relationships