Some worry their child has a heart problem that could lead to sudden death. This is very unlikely — most children who faint do not have underlying heart problems. However, do not ignore fainting. It is important to see a doctor if your child faints even once.

When should I be concerned about my child fainting?

Patients should be evaluated immediately and referred to a cardiologist if they experience: Fainting without an obvious trigger or in a non-typical setting. Fainting without any warning signs or symptoms. Fainting associated with exercise or stress, particularly occurring during exertion.

What should I do if my child faints?

If your child faints, check to see if she hit her head and is breathing OK. If your child isn't breathing normally or doesn't seem quite right, take her immediately to the emergency room or call 911—especially if the fainting happened while your child was exercising or participating in sports.

Is it normal for a child to faint?

Syncope is commonly called fainting. In most children, it's usually harmless. But in a few children, syncope is serious. Fainting may be due to a heart problem, or sometimes a neurological problem.

What does it mean when a child faints?

When a child faints, the blood supply — and the oxygen that blood brings to the brain — is temporarily reduced. This causes the child to lose consciousness, sometimes fall, and in severe cases, have a short seizure. Syncope typically occurs in children during their pre-teen and teen years.

Causes of Fainting | What to Do If Your Child Faints

Why do kids faint when they see blood?

If your child feels faint when they see blood, Halloween is probably not your favorite holiday. The reaction may be caused by vasovagal syncope – the term for a rapid drop in blood pressure and heart rate which can trigger fainting.

Why would a 12 year old faint?

Getting too hot or being in a crowded, poorly ventilated setting are common causes of fainting. Sometimes just standing for a very long time or getting up too fast after sitting or lying down can cause someone to faint. Emotional stress. Emotions like fright, pain, anxiety, or shock can cause blood pressure to drop.

Why would a 7 year old faint?

Most of us don't think about our autonomic nervous system, which controls our heart rate and blood pressure in response to sensors all over the body. As children and adolescents grow, this system is still developing and sometimes overreacts – causing them to faint when their blood pressure or heart rate suddenly drops.

How serious is fainting?

Fainting, or syncope, is a sudden and temporary loss of consciousness. This usually occurs due to a lack of oxygen reaching the brain. Many things can cause oxygen deprivation to the brain, including low blood pressure. Fainting is not usually serious.

Should I worry about fainting?

Don't try to diagnose yourself; seek immediate medical attention if you lose consciousness. Fainting can be alarming, and it should be. While often the cause of fainting is something minor, fainting also can be a sign of a serious underlying medical concern.

Is fainting an emergency?

Fainting might have no medical significance. Or the cause can be a serious disorder, often involving the heart. Therefore, treat loss of consciousness as a medical emergency until the signs and symptoms are relieved, and the cause is known. Talk to your doctor if you faint more than once.

Do and don'ts of fainting?

If possible, lie down and elevate the feet. This may prevent a loss of consciousness. Fresh air can also help, especially if you are feeling hot. If it is not possible to lie down, put your head down as low as possible.

What is the difference between passing out and fainting?

Fainting happens when you lose consciousness for a short amount of time because your brain isn't getting enough oxygen. The medical term for fainting is syncope, but it's more commonly known as “passing out.” A fainting spell generally lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes.

How do I know if my child had a seizure?

1. Staring.
2. Jerking movements of the arms and legs.
3. Stiffening of the body.
4. Loss of consciousness.
5. Breathing problems or stopping breathing.
6. Loss of bowel or bladder control.
7. Falling suddenly for no apparent reason, especially when associated with loss of consciousness.

Can low iron cause fainting?

Anemia is a lack of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin in your blood, which carry oxygen to your organs — including your brain. The hallmark of anemia is tiredness, but it can also cause you to feel faint and dizzy.

Why is my child blood pressure low?

The most common causes of low blood pressure in a child include: Anaphylaxis (life-threatening) allergic reaction. Arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) Certain medications, including painkillers and anti-anxiety medicines.

Is it OK to sleep after fainting?

It is recommended that you lay the person down and elevate their feet. Most people will recover quickly after fainting once they lay down because more blood can flow to your brain.

Should I see a doctor if I fainted?

The term doctors use for fainting is syncope (say "SING-kuh-pee"). Fainting one time is usually nothing to worry about. But it is a good idea to see your doctor, because fainting could have a serious cause.

What is the most common reason for fainting?

The most common reason for fainting is a sudden drop in blood pressure, which reduces blood flow and oxygen to the brain. There are many reasons why a drop in blood pressure could lead to a temporary loss of consciousness: Cardiac syncope: This type of syncope involves fainting due to a heart problem.

Why would a 10 year old pass out?

The most common cause of kids passing out is called vasovagal syncope (neurocardiogenic). This includes situations such as getting shots, blood draws, emotional stress. In younger children, breath holding during spells of crying is a common cause of passing out.

Can growth spurts cause fainting?

Syncope is caused by a sudden decrease in blood flow to the head. It is often triggered by growth spurts and puberty. Most children stop fainting as they get older.

How do you know if your child has a brain hemorrhage?

1. Sudden, severe headache.
2. Dizziness or fainting.
3. Trouble with vision, speech, or movement.
4. Confusion, extreme irritability, or sudden personality change, or coma.
5. Fever.
6. Stiff neck.
7. Seizures or convulsions.
8. Nausea and vomiting.

Can puberty cause dizziness?

Most studies show that musculoskeletal symptoms, headache, dizziness, and fatigue increase during pubertal development in girls.

How do you know if dizziness is serious?

1. Sudden, severe headache.
2. Chest pain.
3. Difficulty breathing.
4. Numbness or paralysis of arms or legs.
5. Fainting.
6. Double vision.
7. Rapid or irregular heartbeat.
8. Confusion or slurred speech.

What to eat after fainting?

Eat high fibre foods such as bran cereal, fresh and dried fruits, vegetables, beans and lentils, wholemeal bread, brown rice and pasta. Read the food label! Plenty of fluids also help to prevent constipation. Potassium: Patients taking Fludrocortisone for PoTS and vasovagal syncope are prone to losing potassium.