JOSH

MY SON WAS 7 WEEKS OLD WHEN HE STOPPED BREATHING IN HIS SLEEP . HE IS NOW TWO YEARS OLD AND NOTHING HAS REALLY IMPROVED . WHAT WILL HIS FUTURE LOOK LIKE ? WILL HE EVER BE A NORMAL CHILD OR ADULT?


This discussion is related to Brain injury due to lack of oxygen.

[Dr Sharma]

Hi there. These are breath holding spells or episodic apnea associated with loss of consciousness and changes in postural tone. Usually common in 6 to 18 months, commonly  simple breath holding spell, cyanotic breath holding spell is precipitated by anger and crying leads to forced expiration and cyanosis. The other types are pallid breath holding spells and complicated breath holding spells. Usually EEG is done in all these types, but clinical diagnosis is important. An ECG may rule out arrhythmia as the cause, and anemia also predisposes to breath holding. Consult a pediatric neurologist and treatment would involve reassurance, correction of anemia if present and checking for prolonged QT syndrome as the cause, which would need medications to correct. Take care.