Can breath holding cause seizures?
No. Children with breath-holding spells do not have epilepsy. As breath-holding spells may look like epileptic seizures, the 2 are often confused. Breath-holding spells happen after your child has been frustrated, startled or hurt.
Is it normal for toddlers to hold their breath?
Breath holding is common, especially in children aged six months to six years old. When your child holds their breath, it is often called a spell. Breath-holding spells can happen after your child has had a fright or a minor accident, or when they are scolded, frustrated or very upset.
Why do toddlers hold their breath and pass out?
Breath-holding spells are brief periods when young children stop breathing for up to 1 minute. These spells often cause a child to pass out (lose consciousness). Breath-holding spells usually occur when a young child is angry, frustrated, in pain, or afraid. But the spell is a reflex.
Can breath-holding spells cause brain damage?
Children usually stop having breath-holding spells by the time they are 4 or 5 years old. Breath-holding spells are not dangerous, and they do not lead to epilepsy or brain damage.
When do kids stop holding their breath?
Although breath-holding can be scary for parents, it’s usually harmless and your child should grow out of it by the age of 4 or 5.
Can breath holding spells cause death?
Serious complications of breath holding spells are rare, but cases of sudden death, prolonged asystole, and status epilepticus have been reported. A detailed history and exam are important to diagnose theses spells and help distinguish from epileptic seizures and other causes of syncope.
Are breath-holding spells normal?
Also called breath-holding attacks, these spells are somewhat common and can happen in healthy children. They can look like seizures, but they’re not. The spells don’t hurt the children, and many outgrow them by age 6 or 7. They are most common in 2-year-olds.
Are breath holding spells fatal?
They are most common from 1 to 3 years of age. Some children have them every day, and some have them only once in a while. Breath-holding spells are usually not serious and don’t cause lasting damage.
Can Breath-Holding Spells be fatal?
How do you stop a child from holding their breath?
What to do when a child has a breath-holding episode
- stay calm – it should pass in less than 1 minute.
- lie the child on their side – do not pick them up.
- stay with them until the episode ends.
- make sure they cannot hit their head, arms or legs on anything.
- reassure them and ensure they get plenty of rest afterwards.
Can a child have a seizure during a breath holding spell?
Both types of spells cause kids to stop breathing and sometimes lose consciousness for up to a minute. In the most extreme cases, kids might have seizures . Having a seizure does not cause any long-term harm or put a child at risk of developing a seizure disorder. Most of the time, you don’t need to do anything during a breath-holding spell.
What does it mean when a child is holding their breath?
What Is a Breath-Holding Spell? A breath holding spell is when a child holds their breath, usually after being angry, frustrated, startled, or in pain. Sometimes the breath holding leads to the child passing out. It can be frightening to watch a breath-holding spell, but they aren’t harmful and usually last less than a minute.
Why does a child turn blue during a breath holding spell?
Cyanotic Breath-Holding Spell. A child turns blue during this type of spell. “Cyanosis” is the medical term for taking on a bluish or purplish tone. This coloring is due to lack of oxygen in the blood. Pallid Breath-Holding Spell. A child appears pale rather than blue during this type of spell.
When do children outgrow breath holding spells?
The spells don’t hurt the children, and many outgrow them by age 6 or 7. They are most common in 2-year-olds. Breath-holding spells come in two types. With cyanotic spells, a child’s face turns blue. With pallid spells, they become pale. Cyanotic spells are more common.