All Areas of Care
Breath Holding Spells
Fainting and breath holding during crying in infants and toddlers
Breath holding spells are a common phenomenon in infants and toddlers, characterized by a pause in breathing at the end of crying, sometimes with pallor or cyanosis, and occasionally a brief loss of consciousness. Although very frightening, the phenomenon is usually benign and resolves with age.
Common Symptoms
- Breath holding at the end of crying
- Facial pallor or cyanosis
- Brief body limpness
- Transient loss of consciousness
- Recurrent episodes from 6 months to 5 years of age
When to Seek Care
- A first, undiagnosed episode
- Frequent episodes (more than once a week)
- A change in the character of the episodes
- Suspected cardiac arrhythmia
- A child over age 5 with recurrent episodes
What We Do at the Clinic
- Distinguishing between episode types (cyanotic/pallid)
- Ruling out cardiac and neurological causes
- Parent guidance on managing an episode correctly
- Blood count and iron level testing
- Follow-up and support until spontaneous resolution
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