Ramadevi Devagudi1, Ramu Pedada2, Annapurna Dumpala3
BACKGROUND
Breath holding spells (BHS) are common, non-epileptic paroxysmal events that
occur in children below 6 years, whose diagnosis is made many times clinically.
Exact aetiology is not known, but iron deficiency was one among many proposed
aetiological factors. Very few studies were published till date to determine role and
effect of iron supplementation in children with breath holding spells. Hence the
present study was taken up to assess the presence of iron deficiency and the effect
of iron supplementation in children with breath holding spells.
METHODS
This prospective interventional study was performed from May 2012 to April 2017.
125 children below six years of age brought with the complaint of breath holding
spells were screened for presence of anaemia and other systemic illnesses. Ten
children were excluded with other organic causes and only 85 children were found
to have anaemia and were supplemented with 6 mg/kg/day of ferrous sulphate
for 3 months and followed up for a total period of 6 months. Response to iron
supplementation was assessed in these children by measuring total number of
attacks of BHS before starting iron supplementation, after supplementation of iron
for three months and also at the end of follow-up period. The results were
analysed by using Microsoft Office Excel.
RESULTS
76.52 % (85/115) of patients had anaemia and were supplemented with 6
mg/kg/day of ferrous sulphate for 3 months. The remaining 27 cases had normal
Hb % & red blood cells (RBC) indices and were not included. Response to iron
therapy was assessed in anaemic children with breath holding spells and we found
complete response in 78.41 %, partial response in 15.91 % and no response in
5.7 %.
CONCLUSIONS
This study proved the role of iron therapy in anaemic children with breath holding
spells.
