In a bustling home in Noida , little Kartik( name changed) , a 𝟮-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗼𝗹�…

In a bustling home in Noida , little Kartik( name changed) , a 𝟮-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝘆, was playing joyfully with his elder sibling. Blocks turned into trains, and laughter filled the room—until a disagreement broke out over who gets the train.

Kartik, frustrated and tearful, cried out loud.

But then something terrifying happened.

His father watched in panic as Kartik’s lips turned blue, and his small body went stiff. For a moment, it felt like time stopped. Was it a seizure? A stroke? Something worse?

They rushed him to the hospital.

By the time they arrived, Kartik had returned to normal—alert, asking again for the toy train. Examination was completely normal.

But this wasn’t the first time.

Just 2 months back , after being scolded by his mother for splashing in the rain, Kartik had an eerily similar episode. Crying. Blue face. Brief loss of control.

𝗛𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗯𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻, 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗺𝘀. 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱?

🔍 After detailed history and evaluation, we diagnosed it as a 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗹—a benign, yet frightening reflex event seen in toddlers. His blood tests revealed iron deficiency, a common contributor to these spells.

🧠 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀. They’re usually triggered by emotions—𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿, 𝗳𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻—𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗲𝗶𝘇𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀.

💡 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀:

➡️𝗥𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀. These episodes are self-limiting.

➡️𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗹𝘆 during the spell (risk of cerebral hypoperfusion).

➡️Treat underlying 𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆.

➡️𝗡𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 needed.

➡️𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 are key.

✨ What appears scary at first glance may not always be dangerous. Understanding the child's cues, providing the right support, and educating families make all the difference.

Dr. Neerja Mishra (Pediatrician)