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Breath-holding attacks in children
1Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115.
Postgraduate Medicine
|November 1, 1988
Insights
Cyanotic breath-holding and pallid infantile syncope are dramatic but benign conditions. A detailed history aids diagnosis, with parental reassurance and explanation being the primary treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
Background:
- Cyanotic breath-holding and pallid infantile syncope are common pediatric events.
- These conditions are often mistaken for seizures but are benign.
Purpose of the Study:
- To differentiate cyanotic breath-holding and pallid infantile syncope from epileptic events.
- To emphasize the importance of accurate diagnosis and parental education.
Main Methods:
- Diagnosis relies on detailed patient history.
- Clinical observation and exclusion of other causes.
Main Results:
- Both cyanotic breath-holding and pallid infantile syncope are easily diagnosed with a thorough history.
- These are benign, non-epileptic conditions.
Conclusions:
- Reassurance and clear explanation for parents are the most effective treatments.
- Accurate diagnosis prevents unnecessary investigations and parental anxiety.
Abstract:
Both cyanotic breath-holding and pallid infantile syncope are dramatic but benign nonepileptic conditions that can usually be easily diagnosed with the help of a detailed history. In both conditions, providing parents with reassurance and a careful explanation of the events is the best treatment.