You are seeing this message because your Web browser does not support basic Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing and what you can do to make your experience on this site better.


ABOUT ARCHIVES
Advanced Search

Welcome   | My Account | E-mail Alerts | Access Rights | Sign In


  Vol. 146 No. 1, January 1992 TABLE OF CONTENTS
  Archives
  •  Online Features
  ARTICLES
 This Article
 •References
 •Full text PDF
 •Send to a friend
 • Save in My Folder
 •Save to citation manager
 •Permissions
 Citing Articles
 •Citation map
 •Citing articles on HighWire
 •Contact me when this article is cited
 Related Content
 •Similar articles in this journal
 Social Bookmarking
  Add to CiteULike Add to Connotea Add to Del.icio.us Add to Digg Add to Reddit Add to Technorati Add to Twitter What's this?

Breath-Holding Spells in Childhood

Francis J. DiMario, Jr, MD

Am J Dis Child. 1992;146(1):125-131.


Abstract

• Childhood breath-holding spells are a common and frightening phenomenon occurring in healthy, otherwise normal children. They have been well recognized for several hundred years. There appear to be two clinical forms: the cyanotic type and the pallid type, referring to the color change exhibited by the child during the episode. Prior research concerning the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in breath-holding spells has implicated an autonomic nervous system dysregulation. Cerebral anoxia is the ultimate factor responsible for the loss of consciousness observed in the severe forms of breath-holding spells. The clinical and epidemiologic aspects of breath-holding spells are herein summarized. The pertinent respiratory and neural physiologic interactions involved are delineated, as well as practical treatment approaches.

(AJDC. 1992;146:125-131)



Author Affiliations

From the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, The University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington.


Footnotes

Accepted for publication October 7, 1991.

Reprint requests to Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, The University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030 (Dr DiMario).



Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Changes of Autonomic Nervous System Function in Patients With Breath-Holding Spells Treated With Iron
Orii et al.
J Child Neurol 2002;17:337-340.
ABSTRACT  

Persistence of Breath-Holding Spells Into Late Childhood
Goraya and Virdi
J Child Neurol 2001;16:697-698.
ABSTRACT  

Breath-Holding Spells Associated With Significant Bradycardia: Successful Treatment With Permanent Pacemaker Implantation
Kelly et al.
Pediatrics 2001;108:698-702.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Breath-Holding Spells and Pacemaker Implantation
DiMario Jr
Pediatrics 2001;108:765-766.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prospective Study of Children With Cyanotic and Pallid Breath-Holding Spells
DiMario Jr
Pediatrics 2001;107:265-269.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Rapid Eye Movement Sleep in Breath Holders
Kohyama et al.
J Child Neurol 2000;15:449-452.
ABSTRACT  

Cardiac pacing for severe childhood neurally mediated syncope with reflex anoxic seizures
McLeod et al.
Heart 1999;82:721-725.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Role of the Capnography Head-up Tilt Test in the Diagnosis of Syncope in Children and Adolescents
Naschitz et al.
Pediatrics 1998;101 :e6-e6.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia in Children With Severe Cyanotic Breath-Holding Spells
DiMario et al.
J Child Neurol 1997;12:260-262.
ABSTRACT  

A Prospective Evaluation of Pediatric Patients With Syncope
Lerman-Sagie et al.
CLIN PEDIATR 1994;33:66-70.
ABSTRACT  





HOME | CURRENT ISSUE | PAST ISSUES | TOPIC COLLECTIONS | SUBMIT | SUBSCRIBE | HELP
CONDITIONS OF USE | PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT US | SITE MAP
 
© 1992 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.