BACKGROUND Breath holding spells are common in non-epileptic, repetitive, paroxysmal events in young infants and children often considered as seizure mimics/ confused with seizure disorder can be a frightening experience for parents and demands a good history of the sequence of events, because the diagnosis is made clinically. Aims and Objectives-To study the disease spectrum of Breath holding spells in infants and children in terms of clinical and epidemiological profile (i.e. age, sex, family history, parental consanguinity, triggering factors, associated comorbidities such as anaemia etc.).
MATERIALS AND METHODSThis case series study was conducted in our Child health clinics. A total of 125 children below 6 years with Breath holding spells were enrolled between May 2012 and April 2017, out of which 10 children were excluded from the study due to various causes. Remaining 115 children diagnosed as Breath holding spells by typical history, clinical examination and after ruling out other causes which mimic Breath holding spells are included in the study.
RESULTSIn the present study, a total of 115 children aged between 6 months and below 6 years were diagnosed as having Breath holding spells. In 73 (63.41%) cases Breath holding spells began during the first 24 months of age. Most common triggering factor bei ng anger (45.2%) and pain (41.7%). A positive family history was found in 27% and parental consanguinity was found in 30.43% of cases. The spells were cyanotic in 62.6% and 76.52% were anaemic.
CONCLUSIONThe result of this study suggests a new data regarding the natural history of Breath holding spells and is important for identifying interventional strategies and parental counselling and could serve as baseline data for future approaches on this paediatric clinical entity.
KEYWORDSBreath Holding Spells, Cyanotic, Pallid, Anaemia. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Bhavanishankar R, Ramu P, Chaitanya N. Clinical and epidemiological profile of breath holding spells (BHS)-an analysis of 115 cases. J. Evolution Med. Dent. Sci. 2018;7(04):534-539, DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2018/119 BACKGROUND Breath holding spells are common in non-epileptic, repetitive, reflexive events described under "behavioural disorders" of children and are initiated by provocative events that cause anger, frustration or pain causing the child to cry. The term Breath holding spells is actually a misnomer, as these are not self-induced but results from immaturity of autonomic system and occurs in two different forms. The first type is pallid Breath holding spells. The second type is the cyanotic or blue Breath holding spells. Episodes usually start with a cry (often in the case of pallid type, a silent cry with marked pallor) and progress to apnoea and cyanosis. Some authors have described third variety as mixed Breath holding spells,