Breath-Holding Spells

Breath-holding spells are when children hold their breath, faint for a very short time, and then wake up and are fine.

Breath-holding spells are common, but most children have only a few.

• Children aren't holding their breath on purpose

• Spells often happen right after something scary, upsetting, or painful

• Breath-holding spells usually happen between about age 1 year and 5 years but can happen in slightly older children

• Children turn pale or blue and then pass out

• Some have a brief seizure (shaking all over)

• After a few seconds, they start breathing again and wake up

• Breath-holding spells are scary to watch but aren't dangerous

Doctors aren't sure why children have breath-holding spells. Some children have them during a temper tantrum. Other children have them after being frightened, startled, or hurt.

Children who have a seizure disorder (epilepsy) also can stop breathing, pass out, and have a seizure. But that's not a breath-holding spell. Brain problems cause seizure disorders. Brain problems don't cause breath-holding spells.

During a breath-holding spell, your child may:

• Cry out

• Stop breathing and faint

• Become pale or blue

• Sometimes shake all over (have a seizure)

• Start breathing again, wake up, and feel okay

Doctors base the diagnosis on:

• Your description of what happened

• An examination of your child that shows nothing abnormal

If your child's examination isn't normal or what happened doesn't sound like a typical breath-holding spell, doctors may do tests. They want to make sure your child doesn't have some other disorder. They may do blood tests, an ECG (electrocardiogram), and a brain wave test (EEG or electroencephalogram).

Breath-holding spells last only a few minutes, so they're over before you can see a doctor.

To help prevent a tantrum from turning into a breath-holding spell, direct your child's attention to something else. If possible, avoid situations that brought on spells in the past.