Simple faint ■■Condition is rare before 10 years of age, usually triggered
by pain, fear and prolonged periods of standing in a warm
environment
■■ It may be associated with brief tonic contraction, abnormal
movements, upward deviation of the eyes
Breath-holding
attacks
■■Diagnosis of breath-holding spells is easy from the history:
both types (cyanotic and pallid) are triggered by upsetting
or painful event
■■Cyanosis (blue colouring) always appears first before seizure