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Breath-holding spellsBBreath-holding spellsBreath-holding spellsEnglishNAToddler (13-24 months);Preschooler (2-4 years);School age child (5-8 years)BodyRespiratory systemConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2014-01-06T05:00:00Z7.7000000000000067.3000000000000698.000000000000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>Breath-holding in children can be scary but is usually harmless. Read on to learn more. </p><h2>What are breath-holding spells?</h2><p>A breath-holding spell happens when a child stops breathing for a short time, from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. The spells can occur often in a single day or only now and then.</p><p>Children who experience breath-holding will usually have their first spell before they turn 18 months, although spells can sometimes start from as early as six months. The spells happen most often when a child is around two years of age and normally end when the child turns five or six.</p><p>It might seem that a child is holding their breath on purpose, but they actually cannot control this behaviour.</p><p>As a parent, you might find breath-holding scary to watch, but the spells are fairly harmless and usually do not do any long-term damage. The child having a breath-holding spell regains their normal colour, level of awareness and breathing pattern within minutes.</p>​<h2>Key points</h2> <ul> <li>Breath-holding spells can start by 18 months and occur until age five or six. A child cannot control their breath-holding spells.</li> <li>Breath-holding episodes usually last from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. They most commonly occur when a child is suddenly frightened or upset, but they can also happen in response to pain.</li> <li>Common signs of a breath-holding spell include crying or gasping, followed by no breathing, pale or blue skin and fainting.</li> <li>Although breath-holding might look scary, the spells are fairly harmless and do not cause long-term damage. Children with breath-holding spells usually do not have an underlying illness.</li> <li>After a spell, it is best to treat your child like other children to avoid reinforcing the behaviour.</li> <li>Call 911 if your child has stopped breathing or has a seizure for more than one minute.</li> </ul><h2>How can I tell when my child is having a breath-holding spell?<br></h2> <p>Breath-holding spells usually happen after a child is suddenly startled or upset. They may occur with a moment of extreme crying.</p> <h3>Common steps in a breath-holding spell</h3> <ol> <li>A brief, shrill cry</li> <li>Forced breathing out, followed by stopped breathing (apnea) and turning red</li> <li>Blue, purple or pale skin (also known as cyanosis)</li> <li><a href="/article?contentid=779&language=English">Fainting</a> or loss of consciousness</li> <li>Jerky movements (short, "seizure-like" movements), only in extreme cases</li> </ol> <p>Jerky movements during a breath-holding spell do not usually indicate a true seizure and do not cause any long-term harm. Children who shake with a breath-holding spell do not appear more likely to get a seizure-related disorder.</p><h2>When to call 911</h2> <p>Call an ambulance if your child:</p> <ul> <li>stops breathing or loses consciousness</li> <li>has trouble breathing</li> <li>has jerky movements or a seizure for more than one minute.</li> </ul>
Spasmes du sanglotSSpasmes du sanglotBreath-holding spellsFrenchNAToddler (13-24 months);Preschooler (2-4 years);School age child (5-8 years)BodyRespiratory systemConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2014-01-06T05:00:00Z8.0000000000000067.0000000000000676.000000000000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>Bien que les spasmes du sanglot des enfants puissent être alarmants, ils sont habituellement inoffensifs. Poursuivez votre lecture pour en savoir davantage. </p><h2>Que sont les spasmes du sanglot?</h2><p>Les spasmes du sanglot​ surviennent lorsqu’un enfant cesse de respirer pendant une courte période variant de quelques secondes à quelques minutes. Ils peuvent se produire à maintes reprises le même jour ou n’avoir lieu que de temps à autre.</p><p>Chez les enfants atteints de spasmes du sanglot, le premier épisode a normalement lieu juste avant l’âge de 18 mois. Cependant, ces manifestations peuvent parfois commencer dès l’âge de six mois. Elles sont plus fréquentes vers l’âge de deux ans et prennent normalement fin à l’âge de cinq ou six ans.</p><p>En assistant aux spasmes du sanglot, on peut penser que l’enfant retient intentionnellement son souffle. En réalité, toutefois, l’enfant n’a aucune maîtrise sur ces épisodes. </p><p>En tant que parent, vous serez sans doute bouleversé en observant les spasmes du sanglot de votre enfant. Sachez cependant que ces épisodes sont relativement inoffensifs et n’ont aucune séquelle à long terme. Une fois les spasmes terminés, votre enfant retrouvera son teint, son rythme respiratoire et sa lucidité habituels en quelques minutes seulement.</p> <br><h2>À retenir</h2> <ul> <li>Les spasmes du sanglot peuvent apparaître dès l’âge de 18 mois et se poursuivre jusqu’à l’âge de cinq ou six ans. Ces épisodes sont involontaires.</li> <li>Les spasmes du sanglot durent généralement de quelques secondes à quelques minutes. Ils surviennent habituellement lorsqu’un enfant est soudainement effrayé ou contrarié, bien que la douleur puisse aussi les provoquer.</li> <li>Les signes courants des spasmes du sanglot sont les pleurs ou une respiration rapide suivis d’une pause respiratoire, d’une coloration bleutée ou d’une pâleur de la peau et de l’évanouissement.</li> <li>Même s’il peut être bouleversant d’observer les spasmes du sanglot de votre enfant, ces épisodes sont relativement inoffensifs et n’ont aucune séquelle à long terme.</li> <li>Les spasmes du sanglot ne sont pas normalement causés par des maladies sous-jacentes.</li> <li>Après un spasme du sanglot, il est préférable de vous comporter comme vous le faites avec les autres enfants pour ne pas favoriser les comportements qui ont engendré l’épisode.</li> <li>Composez le 911 si votre enfant cesse de respirer ou fait des convulsions pendant plus d’une minute.</li> </ul><h3>Comment puis-je savoir si mon enfant est atteint d’un spasme du sanglot?</h3> <p>Les spasmes du sanglot se produisent habituellement lorsqu’un enfant est soudainement effrayé ou contrarié. Ils peuvent être accompagnés momentanément de pleurs incontrôlés.</p> <h2>Étapes courantes d’un spasme du sanglot</h2> <ol> <li>Bref cri perçant.</li> <li>Expiration forcée suivie d’une pause respiratoire (apnée) et rougissement de la peau.</li> <li>Coloration bleutée ou violacée de la peau (aussi connue sous le nom de cyanose) ou pâleur de la peau.</li> <li><a href="/Article?contentid=779&language=French">Évanouissement</a> (perte de conscience).</li> <li>Mouvements saccadés (petits mouvements «​ressemblant aux convulsions épileptiques») dans les cas extrêmes seulement.</li> </ol> <p>Les mouvements saccadés durant un spasme du sanglot ne signifient pas que votre enfant fait une véritable crise d’épilepsie. De plus, ils n’ont aucune séquelle à long terme. Les enfants qui manifestent ces mouvements brusques au cours d’un spasme du sanglot ne seraient pas plus à risque d’être atteints de troubles liés à des crises épileptiques.</p><h2>Quand composer le 911</h2> <p>Appelez une ambulance si votre enfant :</p> <ul> <li>cesse de respirer ou s’évanouit,</li> <li>a du mal à respirer,</li> <li>fait des gestes saccadés ou des convulsions pendant plus d’une minute.</li> </ul>

 

 

 

 

Breath-holding spells780.000000000000Breath-holding spellsBreath-holding spellsBEnglishNAToddler (13-24 months);Preschooler (2-4 years);School age child (5-8 years)BodyRespiratory systemConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2014-01-06T05:00:00Z7.7000000000000067.3000000000000698.000000000000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>Breath-holding in children can be scary but is usually harmless. Read on to learn more. </p><h2>What are breath-holding spells?</h2><p>A breath-holding spell happens when a child stops breathing for a short time, from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. The spells can occur often in a single day or only now and then.</p><p>Children who experience breath-holding will usually have their first spell before they turn 18 months, although spells can sometimes start from as early as six months. The spells happen most often when a child is around two years of age and normally end when the child turns five or six.</p><p>It might seem that a child is holding their breath on purpose, but they actually cannot control this behaviour.</p><p>As a parent, you might find breath-holding scary to watch, but the spells are fairly harmless and usually do not do any long-term damage. The child having a breath-holding spell regains their normal colour, level of awareness and breathing pattern within minutes.</p>​<h2>Types of breath-holding spells</h2> <p>Breath-holding spells fall into two categories:</p> <ul> <li>cyanotic</li> <li>pallid.</li> </ul> <h3>Cyanotic breath-holding</h3> <p>Cyanotic breath-holding is the most common type of spell. It is usually triggered when a child cries after feeling angry, frustrated or frightened. Because the child stops breathing, their bodies receive less oxygen. This can lead to changes in the child's heart rate.</p> <h3>Pallid breath-holding</h3> <p>Pallid breath-holding, which is less common, is triggered after a child experiences pain, for example after falling or hitting their head. This can lead to changes to the child's nervous system, which causes the symptoms such as forced breathing or jerky movements.</p> <p>It is common for your child to have a breath-holding spell with a temper tantrum. If your child has mild breath-holding spells and does not become faint, it is best to ignore the spell as you would ignore a temper tantrum, while making sure the child is safe.</p><h2>Key points</h2> <ul> <li>Breath-holding spells can start by 18 months and occur until age five or six. A child cannot control their breath-holding spells.</li> <li>Breath-holding episodes usually last from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. They most commonly occur when a child is suddenly frightened or upset, but they can also happen in response to pain.</li> <li>Common signs of a breath-holding spell include crying or gasping, followed by no breathing, pale or blue skin and fainting.</li> <li>Although breath-holding might look scary, the spells are fairly harmless and do not cause long-term damage. Children with breath-holding spells usually do not have an underlying illness.</li> <li>After a spell, it is best to treat your child like other children to avoid reinforcing the behaviour.</li> <li>Call 911 if your child has stopped breathing or has a seizure for more than one minute.</li> </ul><h2>How can I tell when my child is having a breath-holding spell?<br></h2> <p>Breath-holding spells usually happen after a child is suddenly startled or upset. They may occur with a moment of extreme crying.</p> <h3>Common steps in a breath-holding spell</h3> <ol> <li>A brief, shrill cry</li> <li>Forced breathing out, followed by stopped breathing (apnea) and turning red</li> <li>Blue, purple or pale skin (also known as cyanosis)</li> <li><a href="/article?contentid=779&language=English">Fainting</a> or loss of consciousness</li> <li>Jerky movements (short, "seizure-like" movements), only in extreme cases</li> </ol> <p>Jerky movements during a breath-holding spell do not usually indicate a true seizure and do not cause any long-term harm. Children who shake with a breath-holding spell do not appear more likely to get a seizure-related disorder.</p><h2>How to help your child during a breath-holding spell</h2> <ul> <li>Make sure your child is in a safe place where they will not fall or be hurt.</li> <li>After the spell, try to be calm. Avoid giving too much attention to the child, as this can reinforce the behaviours that led to the event.</li> <li>Discuss the event with your child's doctor. Your child may need a medical exam to make sure that they do not have any other health problems that could be related to the breath-holding spell, such as iron-deficiency anemia or an irregular heartbeat.</li> </ul><h2>When to call 911</h2> <p>Call an ambulance if your child:</p> <ul> <li>stops breathing or loses consciousness</li> <li>has trouble breathing</li> <li>has jerky movements or a seizure for more than one minute.</li> </ul><img alt="" src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/breath-holding_spells.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/breath-holding_spells.jpgBreath-holding spellsFalse

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