Which is a common symptom of a breath-holding spell?

A common symptom of a breath-holding spell is the cyanotic appearance during the spell. In children, breath-holding spells often occur in response to emotions such as anger, frustration, or pain. The child may hold their breath, causing the body to react with a lack of oxygen. As a result, the skin and lips can turn bluish, indicating cyanosis. This symptom is closely associated with the physiological changes occurring during the spell, where the sudden cessation of breathing leads to decreased oxygen levels in the blood.

The duration of breath-holding spells typically does not exceed a minute or two. Spells lasting over five minutes would be atypical and might suggest a different medical issue. The spells are also often preceded by crying, which is not a required feature of every occurrence. While children may appear drowsy after the spell as they recover, this is not a defining characteristic. Thus, the presence of a cyanotic appearance during the breath-holding spell effectively captures the essence of this reaction.