Apache child processes hanging

[janked]

Hi,

I'm having issues with an Apache/PHP server where the child processes are increasing in memory size and not going away.

Apache memory size of each apache child increases from startup size of ~35 MB to more than 100 MB regularly. Doing a ps and grepping for httpd we find these processes in interruptible sleep state (S<) and taking up CPU resources. These processes do not go away unless apache is restarted. When more requests come in, the cpu load on the server just rockets up to 50+ and a restart is needed.

Currently running debian sarge with Apache/1.3.33 (Unix) PHP/4.3.10 mod_ssl/2.8.22 OpenSSL/0.9.7d1.3.

Php has the following modules:
Mysql, openssl, curl, domxml, eaccelerator, gd, mbstring.

Any help appreciated,

Thanks