Overview
The goal of this prospective population-based study is to evaluate the new disease description and management guidelines for breath-holding spells in children (Hellström Schmidt et al, Acta Paediatrica 2024) below the age of 5 years in southern Sweden. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does the disease description and management guidelines lead to the expected reduction in diagnostic interventions and are the clinical managements guidelines safe to use?
- If iron supplementation is given, does it reduce the frequency and severity of the spells?
- What information and support does parents to children with breath-holding spells need?
Participants will undergo evaluation by a medical doctor and if typical breath-holding spells are diagnosed, be managed according to the new guidelines. If iron deficiency is found, iron supplementation is recommended. Digital surveys will be distributed and parents of patients with frequent spells will be eligible for participation in an interview sub-study.
Description
Please see the Study plan among the documents.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Below 5 years of age
- resident in Region Skåne (Sweden)
- suspected breath-holding spell
Exclusion Criteria:
- previous investigation for breath-holding spell (previous spells are not a reason for exclusion)