Do i need to have this seizure-type episode checked out? my 12 year old son was holding his breath showing a friend how he could turn red. i'm told that he passed out but then had a seizure-type episode.

It : It is unusual for someone to intentionally hold their breath until they pass out. Usually, air hunger will trigger a powerful urge to resume breathing. Loss of consciousness can be caused by syncope (reduced flow of blood to the brain) or seizure, among other causes. Everyone has the ability to have a seizure. For some people seizures can only be triggered by severe illness or injury; for others, seizures seem to happen easily and without a trigger. (a tendency to have repeated, unprovoked seizures is called epilepsy.) some people lie between these two extremes. Changes in breathing patterns, such as rapid heavy breathing or breath-holding, can sometimes unmask an increased tendency to have seizures. In fact, rapid, heavy breathing (or hyperventilation) is usually used in routine brain-wave recording tests (electroencephalograms or eegs) to reveal these tendencies. Most seizure-like events should be checked out.

convulsive syncope: Is the name of what you are describing. It is quite common that when someone faints, they have stiffening, jerking, and twitching which looks very much like a seizure. Typically they recover much faster than a true convulsive seizure, often starting to make memories with in a minute or two.