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How common is breath-holding?

It is estimated that around 5% of children aged between 6 months and 6 years experience breath-holding spells. Boys and girls are affected equally.

FAQ Frequently asked questions

What is breath-holding?

A breath-holding spell is a transient episode where a toddler turns blue or pale, and appears to be holding their breath.

What are the symptoms of breath-holding?

During a breath-holding spell, a child may: turn blue or become pale; lose consciousness; stop breathing; have a strained expression as if they are crying, although they will make no sound; become limp; faint; sweat; have muscle twitching or body …

What causes breath-holding?

The cause of breath-holding spells is not known; however, most children with breath-holding spells have lower levels of iron in their blood. The significance of this is not known.

How is breath-holding diagnosed?

To diagnose breath-holding, your child may undergo a thorough medical and physical examination to ensure they do not have any underlying medical problems such as a heart condition. Your doctor may ask you about the skin colour your child has during …

How is breath-holding treated?

During a breath-holding spell: lie the child on their side and monitor them; check their mouths to ensure they are not choking on an object or food; do not shake them; do not put anything in their mouth or splash water on them, and; keep their arms, legs and …

Can breath-holding be cured?

Most children will grow out of their breath-holding spells by the time they are 6 years old.

Can breath-holding be prevented?

Although they cannot be prevented, the occurrence of breath-holding spells may follow a pattern, which may allow you to distract your child before they hold their breath. You may also be able to work with your doctor to come up with better coping strategies …

What is the outlook for breath-holding?

Most children will not experience any long-term harm from breath-holding spells and will grow out of these episodes by the time they reach 6 years of age. The long-term effects for pallid breath-holding spells are isolated to an increased risk of …

Is breath-holding serious?

Most cases of breath-holding aren't associated with any short-term or long-term harm for the child.

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About this article

Author: Dr Idan Ben-Barak PhD, MSc, BSc (Med)
First answered: 13 Oct 2014
Last reviewed: 14 May 2019
Rating: 4.8 out of 5
Votes: 24 (Click smiley face below to rate)
Category: Childhood immunisations

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