Breath-holding spells: Prevalence and risk factors in under 6-year old children at south of Tehran

Abstract: To determine breath- holding spells (BHS) prevalence and risk factors in under 6- year- old children, we interviewed mothers of 400 children in a cross- sectional study in 5 health centers at south of Tehran in autumn 1999. 33 children (8.25%) had history of BHS (Male: 19, Female: 14 25 cases were between 2-4 years old (mean: 40±17 months). Seventy percent of cases (23) had onset of attacks after 6 months of age (mean: 10 monthis) and the commonest frequency was one spell per month (78.79%). Painful experience and falling and striking the head wee the common triggering factors (79% and 76% respectively) and there was significant association between BHS and history of fallin and severe striking of the head. There was no significant associations between BHS and sex, birth weight, birth order, delivery method, type of labor initiating and duration of labor.