American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Practice Exam

In the case of a non-obese child aged 2-8 years with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), adenotonsillectomy is recognized as the first-line treatment approach, especially when the OSA is primarily due to enlarged adenoids or tonsils. This surgical intervention can significantly reduce or eliminate the obstruction that leads to sleep apnea, improving both sleep quality and overall health outcomes.

Children in this age group often experience OSA due to the anatomical features of their upper airway, where the growth of lymphatic tissue in the form of adenoids and tonsils can cause significant airway obstruction during sleep. Removing these obstructive tissues can lead to rapid and effective relief from apnea symptoms, and it is supported by clinical guidelines as a primary management strategy for this condition in children who are not obese.

Other treatment options exist but are generally not first-line for this demographic. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is more commonly used in older children and adults, usually when surgery is not an option or is inadequate. Medication management can help with symptoms but doesn't address the anatomical issue. Weight loss is typically considered in cases where obesity is a contributing factor, which doesn't apply to this specific scenario of a non-obese child.

Thus, the