Presentation
Note, that the use of anti-epileptic medications will not address the symptoms of breath holding spells.[5] Breath holding spells occur when children hold their breath as they are crying excessively.[1] In pediatrics, it is a common presentation and is [aaemrsa.blogspot.com]
Obstruction of airway by blood Obstruction of airway by food On examination - abdominal breathing On examination - adventitious sounds present On examination - chest expansion unequal On examination - chest PN hyperresonant On examination - chest PN [icd9data.com]
To the best our knowledge, this study presents the first data on QOL before and after PM implantation in this group of patients. [annalspc.com]
Cyanotic breath-holding has been found to respond to iron therapy (1), even in the absence of anemia, and to treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (when present). During a pallid breath-holding spell, vagal stimulation severely slows the heart rate. [merckmanuals.com]
Entire Body System
Gastrointestinal
- Choking
Choking – while choking can be a life-threatening emergency, most episodes of choking aren’t. [keepkidshealthy.com]
Was she choking?! I flipped her over and hit her several times with my palm in between her shoulder blades (thank goodness I had remembered what to do in case a baby was choking). But still nothing. She was even more blue. [modernlymorgan.com]
What to do during a breath-holding spell Keep your child safe by rolling her onto her side and checking her mouth for food or objects she could choke on. [allparenting.com]
If your child passes out for a brief time, stay calm and: check your child's mouth for food or any object that could pose a choking hazard once your child regains consciousness remove all objects or furniture within reach in case your child has a seizure [kidshealth.org]
Instead, if you are certain she hasn’t choked on something, place her in a safe spot (without giving in to whatever she held her breath to achieve), and ignore her behavior. [drgreene.com]
Musculoskeletal
- Muscle Weakness
With epilepsy, convulsions and muscle weakness precede the loss of skin color. An electroencephalogram (EEG) that records electrical activity in the brain is normal in all forms of BHS, whereas it may be abnormal with epilepsy. [healthofchildren.com]
Neurologic
- Behavior Problem
The episodes are not behavioral, but if the child learns that when he starts crying he gets his way, he may develop behavior problems. [childneurologyfoundation.org]
Because they're involuntary (not done on purpose), they're not a behavioral problem. A doctor can help parents understand what triggers a spell in their child, how to prevent future spells, and how to deal with them if they do happen. [kidshealth.org]
"Medical problems can be expressed at this time." Kids Will Grow Out of Bad Behaviors But Ayoob pointed out that, without a solid underlying problem resulting in BHS, there is little treatment available. [abcnews.go.com]
This can lead to behavior problems that may last even after she’s outgrown her breath-holding spells. [webmd.com]
Treatment
Piracetam is an effective prophylactic treatment for severe BHS. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
After the spell, the heart speeds up again, breathing restarts, and consciousness returns without any treatment. Because this form is rare, further diagnostic evaluation and treatment may be needed if the spells occur often. [merckmanuals.com]
[…] is effective in the treatment of BHS and that iron deficient children are more likely to benefit from such treatment. 8 Our data suggest that iron may be crucial in the treatment of BHS because IDA may be the main underlying defect. [adc.bmj.com]
Prognosis
See also: Temper tantrums Support Groups Expectations (prognosis) Most children outgrow breath holding spells by ages 4 - 8. [mostellarmedical.org]
Outlook (Prognosis) Most children outgrow breath holding spells by the time they are 4 to 8 years old. Children who have a seizure during a breath holding spell are not at higher risk of having seizures otherwise. [mountsinai.org]
Prognosis of BHS is very good, but it must be said that rare cases of injury have been reported. Treatment consists of reassurance, and recognition that the episodes are rarely in the child’s control. [epilepsy.com]
Outlook (Prognosis) Most children outgrow breath holding spells by the time they are 4 – 8 years old. Children who have a seizure during a breath holding spell are not at more risk of getting a seizure disorder. [coordinatedhealth.com]
Outlook (Prognosis) Most children outgrow breath holding spells by the time they are 4 to 8 years old. Children who have a seizure during a breath holding spell are not at more risk of getting a seizure disorder. [nicklauschildrens.org]
Etiology
The book is designed to supplement standard textbooks that provide detailed information on etiology, pathogenesis and therapeutic controversies in pediatric clinical neuroscience. [books.google.com]
Practically all categories in the chapter could be designated 'not otherwise specified', 'unknown etiology' or 'transient'. [icd10data.com]
Epidemiology
The clinical and epidemiologic aspects of breath-holding spells are herein summarized. The pertinent respiratory and neural physiologic interactions involved are delineated, as well as practical treatment approaches. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
The clinical and epidemiologic aspects of breath-holding spells are herein summarized. The pertinent respiratory and neural physiologic interactions involved are delineated, as well as practical treatment approaches. ( AJDC. 1992;146:125-131) [doi.org]
[…] v=oknV2XZt9Uw Epidemiology Occurs in approximately 5% of the population with equal distribution between males and females. Most common between 6-18 months and usually not present after 5 years of age. [pedclerk.bsd.uchicago.edu]
Pathophysiology
Prior research concerning the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in breath-holding spells has implicated an autonomic nervous system dysregulation. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
These events are unique to childhood, though they may have the same pathophysiology as similar events that occur in adults. It is important to understand that these episodes are not temper tantrums. [journals.lww.com]
The estimated prevalence of these severe BHS is about 0.6-4%. [2] Although the exact pathophysiology remains unknown, most authors differentiate between two basic mechanisms resulting in either pallid (pBHS) or cyanotic (cBHS) BHS. [annalspc.com]
Prevention
Preventing Future Spells Once kids mature and develop better coping skills, they usually outgrow breath-holding spells. [kidshealth.org]
Often, the spells can be predicted and even prevented from occurring once the factors that trigger them have been identified. [news-medical.net]
What can I do to help prevent breath-holding spells? Most attacks from falling down or a sudden fright can't be prevented. Neither can most attacks that are triggered by anger. [kpjampang.com]
Distracting children and avoiding situations that lead to tantrums are the best ways of preventing and treating these spells. [merckmanuals.com]