What causes child to be unable to breath sometimes?
Patient: I have a 7 month old who at times gets strangled easily and at other times will suddenly be unable to breath. He acts as if he were holding his breath; however, he isnt he just cant get air in. He turns blue nearly passing out before finally regains ability. Can the flap that prevents foods etc from going into your lungs be sticking and causing inability to allow air passage also? Doctor: Hello,Many infants go through what is called as breath holding spells. There is no known cause for it, and it seen more often than one would think, these usually last for about 1 minute. Breath holding spells occur when baby is hungry and cries or is seeking attention and does not know how to express.Infant breath-holding or turning blue is more common than you think in babies. As a parent you will be scared to death but please understand that the infant does not have it in him to hold his breath long enough to cause damage. The body’s natural mechanism of breathing will kick in and override the forced breath-holding.You should be concerned if they happen too often or while feeding or happen because of high grade fever or seizures.Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.Regards,Dr. Vignan Rachabattuni