study on breath holding spells: impact on iron therapy

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the prognosis of breath-holding spells [BHS] after iron treatment, 30 children [20 boys and 10 girls] aged between 10 months and 7 years [mean age 20.2 months] were followed prospectively for 3 months on iron therapy. It was found that spells were cyanotic in 60%, pallid in 26.7% and mixed in 13.3%. All patients were evaluated initially for hematological indices and EEG. All patients received iron therapy for 3 months [6mg/kg/day]. There was marked reduction in the frequency, duration and severity of BHS after iron therapy