What causes my child to feel dizzy or faint?
What causes my child to feel dizzy or faint?
Syncope is defined as a temporary loss of consciousness and is usually related to temporary insufficient blood flow to the brain.
Mark Zittergruen, MD, a pediatric cardiologist at St. Luke’s said his practice has seen an increase in recent years of students in middle to high school, who come to his office after experiencing syncope – feeling lightheaded or dizzy, or an episode of fainting. He notes that while most causes are not life-threatening, patients should visit their doctor to rule out any problems.
“In most young people, the actual loss of consciousness typically lasts for just a few seconds, but there is an understandable concern that something may be wrong with the child’s heart or they may have some serious underlying condition,” said Zittergruen.
In fact, what he finds in the majority of cases is symptoms related to not drinking enough fluid or eating properly and being over-extended with too many activities and not enough rest. He also finds many of these patients do not use the restroom often – a sign of dehydration.
“I always ask, and typically patients will tell me, they do not use the restroom during the school day,” he said. “The solution, is to drink fluids throughout the school day and increase sodium intake.”
“I give the kids a ‘fluid prescription,’ and we discuss how they can accomplish that during a busy school day,” said Zittergruen. “I also explain that they need to be given permission to carry a beverage with them and use the restroom frequently.”
“For many students, I recommend they drink a fluid like Gatorade, early in the day, and then refill the bottle with water and drink it throughout the day,” Zittergruen said. “The goal is to produce clear urine every three-to-four hours.” The importance of a healthy breakfast is also emphasized and he recommends a multivitamin with iron. “If a child really adheres to these recommendations, their problems usually improve significantly,” he stated. For a diagnostic evaluation, he conducts a physical examination, family history and electrocardiogram (EKG) to look for any abnormalities. If that evaluation turns up no red flags, he proceeds with a conservative treatment. Some common scenarios for syncope in young people, he says, are in church, a hot shower, the school lunch line, biology class, when donating or drawing blood.
Because the episodes can be triggered by a sudden change in blood volume, quickly moving after sitting or standing for a long period of time can cause syncope. Visual or smell stimulation, such as the sight or smell of vomit, are also triggers. When he hears about fainting during any of these scenarios, his concern level drops a bit and he offers a conservative approach.
Before an episode, the child may experience a sensation of feeling warm, sweating, becoming nauseated or have visual changes. He or she should be encouraged to sit or lay down in an attempt to prevent loss of consciousness. The good news is that as children mature, they typically outgrow the condition. If you have a concern about your child’s heart condition call St. Luke’s Pediatric Cardiology at 319/368-5757.
