Patient's question:
There is a little girl, about 8 months old when she was born. When she cries, she cries hard. But once, she cried and cried, and then it was as if she had stopped breathing, with no movement at all. But after a while, she woke up on her own and stopped crying. So, to prevent her from crying, we always try to comfort her and minimize her crying. Now she is almost two years old and has started talking. Her voice is a bit hoarse, and we worry that it might be a result of her crying too hard. There have been a few similar incidents since then. I wonder if this could be a sign of something serious?Doctor's answer:
Hello, breath-holding syndrome in children is not uncommon and is one manifestation of child hysteria, classified as a psychological disorder. This condition most frequently occurs in children aged 6 months to 3 years and typically triggers during moments when a child's demands are unmet or when they are startled. Due to the temporary cessation of respiratory movement in affected children, symptoms of hypoxia become pronounced. Hypoxia can lead to transient loss of brain function, resulting in confusion, convulsions, and incontinence of urine and feces. Since it is a reflexive respiratory pause, breathing can resume with a cry after stimulation from hypoxia or increased carbon dioxide levels, or through artificial stimulation of the philtrum.To prevent breath-holding syndrome in children, the key lies in proper education. It is essential not to punish or scare children, nor to indulge them excessively or comply with unreasonable demands. Moreover, parents should not avoid disciplining or engaging with a child simply because they have breath-holding syndrome. Instead, it is important to actively guide children, encourage their participation in group activities, and foster interactions with peers. This helps cultivate a sense of sharing and promotes a cheerful, optimistic personality, overcoming the "little emperor" mentality that prioritizes self-interest. Only in this way can breath-holding syndrome be fundamentally prevented.
Of course, if an episode occurs, parents need not panic. They should place the child in a quiet, supine position, loosen their clothing, and apply pressure to the philtrum with a finger to alleviate the symptoms.