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My niece is 12. On about three or four occasions over the last year or two, she has passed out or fainted. Once was on the softball field; once was at school; once or twice was at home. In each time she was later found to
be either dehydrated or very fatigued; the most recent time she was also suffering from strep throat.
My sister, of course, is horribly concerned, and has taken her to a couple of doctors who have checked her daughter out. However, the consensus seems to be that "some kids do this" -- basically, that some children's bodies have this reaction to getting sick, overly fatigued or dehydrated.
Has anyone heard of this or had this experience? Will a child grow out of it? Is there a specialist we should be taking her to? What is actually going on in her body when she loses consciousness this way?
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I found this interesting article: Why does my child faint?.
I have read that kids do pass out, and it is not necessarily from an underlying medical condition. Some kids, however, may have some breathing problems or are using substances to make themselves pass out on purpose. Other kids may be holding their breath, have excess weight loss; and still others may react by passing out after a recent illness.
You sound like you are on top of your son's condition, and I hope you continue to observe your son without being overly concerned if this is a one-time occurrence (I know, easier said than done; I have two sons of my own).
Please let me know what you think of the article I sent to you.
June 6, 2010 - 7:57pmThis Comment
Long QT can be serious, but there are other cardiac conditions that are less serious that can cause fainting such as Mitral Valve Prolapse. Ekg's are okay, but I would request seeing a cardiologist to rule out any cardiac conditions through an echocaridogram. My teenage child has had similar episodes and has this condition. However, it may just be simple food or anxiety difficulties.
May 1, 2010 - 11:03pmThis Comment
My daughter is 13 and she fainted today for about 30 or 40 seconds. We were coming home from the doctor's office where they had diagnosed her with strep throat. I called the doctor back immediately and they said to drink lots of fluid and get something in her stomach. It was around one o'clock and she had only one glass of water and nothing to eat. If your neice was dehydrated then I wouldnt be too concerned. I would just tell her mother to make sure she drank lots of fluids from now on... especially water.
March 16, 2010 - 12:14pmThis Comment
Thank you for sharing; it is amazing that something as "simple" as not drinking enough water could lead to something as "scary" as our kids fainting. We have heard from quite a few parents that their child fainted for a few seconds/minutes when they are sick with strep throat...and the doctors remedy was to drink plenty of fluids. This does make sense, as our kids may not be consuming enough water or liquids if it is painful for them to swallow.
I hope your daughter is feeling better, and that her fainting episode was not too traumatic on either one of you!
March 16, 2010 - 12:43pmThis Comment
My teen son fainted on the evening he has all 4 wisdom teeth out.
He was on computer eating some soft foods. He walked to livingroom said he was not feeling well when he collapsed, fainted, his body was tight and his eyes were NOT rolled back but were glassed over. EMS came and said it may have been from the vicodin or surgery. Pulse rose upon standing when they checked him but BP stayed same but low.
This happened when he was 2 yrs old, after a bug bite and again in November 2008 when he woke up one morning said he had a slight headache, he was urinating and he passed out, body locked up. Again EMS felt like he was ok and we didnt need to transport.
He had a brain scan when he was 2 after fainting but hasnt seen a doctor for this otherwise.
I hear of things like Prolonged QT and I worry. My sister is wearing a heart monitor right now to check for Prolonged QT's (she is 42)
Is this typical fainting or could it be something heart related?
February 25, 2010 - 4:56amThis Comment
It sounds like there were very specific reasons for the fainting spells:
1. Teen son faints day-of dental surgery; EMS checked him and said it may have been from vicodin, which makes sense.
2. When your son was 2 years old (is this the same son?), he fainted after a bug bite, and EMS checked him out.
I'm curious why you are asking about this now? Are you talking about the same son who fainted twice in his life: once when he was two from a bug bite, and then again when he was a teenager after dental surgery? These sound like legitimate reasons for fainting, so I'm wondering if another episode happened that is concerning you? How old is your son now, and how long ago was his last fainting spell (from teeth pulling)?
February 25, 2010 - 2:57pmThis Comment
My son is 10 years old. He faints when he sees blood, in person or on TV. He has also fainted a few times in school when they were reading about auto and plane accidents. The doctors found no heart conditions. Has anyone had this problem? I understand fainting at the site of blood more than I understand when he faints while reading.
February 1, 2010 - 1:35pmThis Comment
My daughter is 10 and also faints at the sight of blood or even talking about it. This morning her ear was bleeding (very little, a dot) because she has an ear infection and she called me to come into the washroom and I just got there and she was starting to fall and I had to catch her. Her eyes will roll and within seconds she will open them and start looking around. This started for us around the age of 6 months when she would cry and just pass out. She also has a twin sister and it has happened once or twice to her also.
October 19, 2010 - 3:43pmIt stills scares the crap out of me but my doctor says that she is fine.
Maybe reading about an accident or something similiar may be a visual thing for him, he sees what he reads.
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I'm sorry to tell anyone else that has this happening to them I am 17 and have been having these spells almost all my life and it just keeps getting worst the doctors are just now innoring it. Some people are lucky and it just goes away but for me I am waiting that day when it goes away.
January 21, 2010 - 6:43pmThis Comment
My daughter who is 13 passes out with increasing regularity. She is most often seated when she passes out. We have had her tested by a cardiologist and a neurologist and they can find nothing wrong. I am hoping to have the "tilt test" done on her, this test will help to diagnose Vasovagal syncope. If that is the diagnosis, I am still unclear as to how to treat it. I most often worry about head injuries. My heart goes out to all other families who deal with this, and any other information that anyone has would be most appriciated.
October 6, 2009 - 10:40amThis Comment