Snoring in children is relatively common and often harmless. However researchers have said that children who snore frequently should be assessed to make sure this is not affecting their quality of life.

Children who snore frequently and have breathing problems during sleep (sleep apnoea) have a poorer quality of sleep, which can lead to a range of problems, such as daytime sleepiness, a lack of concentration, learning difficulties and delayed growth.

However this latest study from Sweden found that many parents are unaware of these risks.

The researchers looked at 1,300 children who were aged 11 and under. They found that around 5% of these children snored several times a week. However despite this, just one in three had sought medical help for the issue.

"Children with persistent snoring often have a reduced quality of life. In particular, this applies to children who have sleep apnoea. The study shows that awareness is low regarding the negative effects of breathing disturbances during sleep on children's health and that most parents are not aware that this is something that should be investigated.

"An obvious result of the study is that we must consider how parents are given information about the condition and where they can seek help," the researchers from the Sahlgrenska Academy said.

They noted that the most common reason for snoring in children is enlarged tonsils or adenoids. In such cases, snoring can be reduced or cured with surgery.

The researchers advised parents that if their children are snoring frequently, they should have them medically evaluated.

Details of these findings are published in The Journal of Laryngology & Otology.