Iron deficiency anemia as a cause of breath holding spells

ABSTRACT

To assess the efficiency of iron therapy in reducing the frequency of breath holding spells. Material and This was a prospective, interventional study conducted in the department of Pediatrics, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. A total of 50 patients between the ages of 6 months and 5 years with breath holding spells and mild to moderate iron deficiency anemia were studied. After giving them iron therapy for 8 weeks, they were assessed for the improvement in their anemia and its impact on the frequency of breath holding spells. Fifty children with iron deficiency anemia and breath holding spells were studied prospectively. Thirty-one [62%] cases were males and 19 [38%] females. The mean age was 27 months [SD '12.6]. The mean baseline hemoglobin was 9.79gm/dl. After 4 weeks of iron therapy it was 10.54gm/dl and after 8 weeks it was 11.23gm/dl. There was a statistically significant rise in the hemoglobin level with 8 weeks of iron therapy [p<0.001]. This rise in the hemoglobin level was associated with a statistically significant fall in the frequency of breath holding spells with 8 weeks of iron therapy [p<0.001]. It appears that treating iron deficiency anemia is effective in reducing the frequency of breath holding spells