The best way to distinguish epilepsy from breath-holding is to search for a trigger: epilepsy rarely has one and breath-holding almost always does. Temper tantrums do not themselves lead to loss of consciousness, unless they are a trigger for a BHS.
http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/diagnosis/seizure-imitators/breath-holding-spells
1 Crying or whimpering ensues and then pauses, at which time, a facial color change is evident. 2  If the episode persists, the child will become poorly responsive, and may lose consciousness, becoming limp and falling.  The term “breath-holding” causes confusion, as it may suggest that children hold their breath on purpose.
http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/diagnosis/seizure-imitators/breath-holding-spells
There are two types of breath-holding spells: 1  A cyanotic spell is caused by a change in the child's usual breathing pattern, usually in response to feeling angry or frustrated.  A pallid spell is caused by a slowing of the child's heart rate, usually in response to pain.
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/breath-holding_spells-health/article_em.htm
Breath-holding spells are brief periods when young children stop breathing for up to 1 minute. These spells often cause a child to pass out (lose consciousness). Breath-holding spells usually occur when a young child is angry, frustrated, in pain, or afraid. But the spell is a reflex. Children don't have breath-holding spells on purpose.
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/tc/breath-holding-spells-topic-overview
1 The term “breath-holding” causes confusion, as it may suggest that children hold their breath on purpose. This is not the case. Breathing may stop in some BHS, but the children do not hold their breath voluntarily.  The prevalence of BHS ranges from 0.1% to over 4% in different studies.
http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/diagnosis/seizure-imitators/breath-holding-spells
But the spell is a reflex. Children don't have breath-holding spells on purpose. There are two types of breath-holding spells: A cyanotic spell is caused by a change in the child's usual breathing pattern, usually in response to feeling angry or frustrated. It's the most common type.
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/breath-holding_spells-health/article_em.htm
There are two types of breath-holding spells: 1  A cyanotic spell is caused by a change in the child's usual breathing pattern, usually in response to feeling angry or frustrated. It's the most common type.  A pallid spell is caused by a slowing of the child's heart rate, usually in response to pain.
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/tc/breath-holding-spells-topic-overview
What are breath-holding spells? In a breath-holding spell (BHS) a child appears to hold his or her breath, becomes pale or blue, and then, if severe, loses awareness. It is a reflex, involuntary act, although it may result from a voluntary or semi-voluntary act causing the child to become emotional.
http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/diagnosis/seizure-imitators/breath-holding-spells
There are two types of breath-holding spells: 1  A cyanotic spell is caused by a change in the child's usual breathing pattern, usually in response to feeling angry or frustrated. It's the most common type.  A pallid spell is caused by a slowing of the child's heart rate, usually in response to pain.
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/breath-holding_spells-health/article_em.htm
There are two types of breath-holding spells: 1  A cyanotic spell is caused by a change in the child's usual breathing pattern, usually in response to feeling angry or frustrated.  A pallid spell is caused by a slowing of the child's heart rate, usually in response to pain.
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/tc/breath-holding-spells-topic-overview
what is a breath holding spell?
Breath holding spells are brief periods when young children stop breathing for up to 1 minute.  A Breath-holding spell is a brief period when young children stop breathing for up to one minute.