Breath holding spells in a 3-day-old neonate: an unusual early presentation in a family with a history of breath holding spells

Neuropediatrics
M A BreukelsJ A A M van Diemen-Steenvoorde

Abstract

Breath holding spells are common in childhood. They peak about 2 years of age and abate by 5 years of age; they are rare before 6 months of age. We report a case of cyanotic breath holding spells starting at the age of 3 days. There was a family history of breath holding spells including a three-year-old brother, patient's father, his sister, and the paternal great grandfather. Pharmacological intervention with iron replacement therapy and piracetam was not successful. We want to draw attention to the fact that breath holding spells should be included in the differential diagnosis of neonatal cyanotic spells. The course of these neonatal breath holding spells is thought to be "benign", but nevertheless, severe breath holding spells can pose problems for parents and clinicians.

Citations

Feb 5, 2014·Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology : Official Publication of the American Electroencephalographic Society·Sebahattin VurucuRidvan Akin
Nov 6, 2013·Case Reports in Neurological Medicine·Geetanjali RathoreManish Parakh
Jun 14, 2014·Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health·Sedat Işikay, Şamil Hızlı
Jul 4, 2006·Pediatric Neurology·Orkide HüdaogluSemra Kurul
May 14, 2010·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·Anthony A ZehetnerDanielle M Wheeler
Nov 14, 2018·Current Pediatric Reviews·Alexander K C LeungKam Lun Hon
Mar 24, 2018·Global Pediatric Health·Coralie SalomonIsabelle Ruchonnet-Métrailler
Sep 17, 2016·Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova·A V PolskayaE V Jakovenko

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