Breath Holding Spells

Breath holding spells are small periods of time when your child may stop breathing. This can go up to one minute or slightly more, and can result in your child passing out or fainting. This happens as a reflex when your child is afraid, angry, agitated, frustrated or in pain. Your child will not do this voluntarily, as it is rather a reaction to an extreme emotion that he or she is facing.

This might sound very frightening, when it really isn’t. Breath holding spells do not have any adverse side effects to health and are not even dangerous or deadly. Your child will resume breathing normally after he or she has passed out after the breathing spell. This is most prevalent amongst children of two years of age, but can happen anytime between six months to six years. By the sixth year, kids usually outgrow this. Breath holding spells are disturbing, especially to the mother, but they can be controlled easily once identified.

When to seek expert advise

​If you witness any of the above situations, it is best to consult your doctor once to be sure that your child is experiencing breath holding spells and the situation is not due to any underlying cause. You can consult the doctors at the Children’s Hospital Service Line at The Aga Khan University Hospital for an accurate diagnosis.​

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