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Published on: February 14, 2019

Breath holding spells: point prevalence and associated factors among Turkish children

Kursat Bora Carman1, Arzu Ekici, Sevgi Yimenicioglu

  • 1Department of Pediatric Neurology, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey. kbcarman@gmail.com

Pediatrics International : Official Journal of the Japan Pediatric Society
|June 21, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Breath holding spells (BHS) affect 3.6% of children in Turkey. Key risk factors include birthweight, parental education, birth order, and paternal age, influencing BHS prevalence.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Neurology
  • Child Health

Background:

  • Breath holding spells (BHS) are common paroxysmal non-epileptic disorders in children, with two subtypes: cyanotic and pallid.
  • Prevalence in Western countries ranges from 0.1-4.6%, but data from developing countries is limited.
  • Accurate prevalence data is crucial for understanding BHS epidemiology globally.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of breath holding spells (BHS) in a Turkish pediatric population.
  • To identify potential risk factors associated with the occurrence of BHS in children aged 0-6 years.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 1000 randomly selected children aged 0-6 years in Eskisehir province, Turkey.
  • Parents completed a specific questionnaire regarding their child's medical history.
  • Children with a history of BHS underwent further clinical evaluation and neurological examinations.

Main Results:

  • A total of 933 children were analyzed, with 3.6% experiencing BHS.
  • Significant risk factors identified include birthweight, parental consanguinity, and maternal education status.
  • Increased birth sequence, higher paternal education, and increased paternal age were associated with BHS risk.

Conclusions:

  • The prevalence of BHS in this Turkish cohort aligns with previous international studies.
  • Positive family history, birth sequence, parental education, and paternal age are significant risk factors for BHS.
  • These findings highlight the importance of considering socioeconomic and familial factors in BHS.
Abstract

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