COMPARISON ON THE EFFICACY OF USING PIRACETAM WITH ORAL IRON VERSUS IRON ALONE IN CHILDREN WITH BREATH-HOLDING SPELLS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN CALICUT

Shaimoi T, Sriram Vijay, Raihana PT*, Renitha Thampi, Sanjay Sreekumar

Devaki Amma Memorial College of Pharmacy, Chelembra, Malappuram, Kerala, India

ABSTRACT

Breath holding spells (BHS) are one of the most frequent and important diagnostic challenges in pediatrics. These are apparently frightening events relatively common in children. Parental reassurance and non-pharmacological methods are usually followed. But in some cases BHS can be very stressful for the parents and these methods alone may not be sufficient. In such conditions pharmacological agents may be desired in some of these patients. Iron supplements and piracetam are the two different pharmacological methods that are used for treating breath holding spells in children. But not much study has been conducted to see the effects of these drugs in pediatrics. This is the first time such kind of study is conducted in our study site and it is hypothesized to show some results to compare two therapeutic regimen that are commonly prescribed for breath holding spells in children. A total of 70 breath holding spells cases were enrolled into the study of which 35 patients (A) were given iron alone and 35 patients (B) were given piracetam and oral iron. The study provides the data for comparing the efficacy of using piracetam with oral iron versus iron alone in children with breath holding spells in the outpatient department of PVS Hospital (P) Ltd, Calicut. The study concluded that piracetam appears to be safe and effective drug for breath holding spells. Piracetam in addition to oral iron in children with breath holding spells can decrease the frequency and severity of attacks than using iron alone, thus reducing the distress of the disturbed parents and suffering of their children.

Keywords:

Breath Holding Spells, Oral Iron, Piracetam, Efficacy