What are breath holding spells?
Breath holding spells or breath holding spasms are a benign, involuntary phenomenon seen in children between 6 months and 6 years of age. Either due to pain, fear or in anger frustration the child cries and then holds the breath. Q] How do children with breath holding spells present? A] Breath holding spells occur only when the child is awake. There are 2 ways in which children with breath holding spells present • Blue (Cyanotic) spells. • Pale (Pallid) spells. Blue spells are the most common variety though some children may present with both the varieties (mixed) Blue spells -They are often provoked by an upsetting situation, in anger or in frustration. The child usually cries or screams loudly and then the cry gradually becomes noiseless as child open the mouth and holds the breath for about 20 30 sec. The child turns blue and then the child may again start breathing or may proceed to lose consciousness. Sometimes, fits may follow the loss of consciousness. * The entire episode may l
