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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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Have you taken her to the doctor and asked for an EKG? There's a condition called Long QT that causes fainting in teens. They treat it with a betablocker/pacemaker (depending on your cardiologist's recommendations), but it's a dangerous condition until it's treated.
Worth a doctor's visit, I'd say.
April 14, 2009 - 3:36pmThis Comment
wow that is hitting home right now my son is 15 and has had a couple of fainting spells took him in and did a ekg but they are sending him to a spec. to confirm what they had found today not good news but leading us down the road to where we need to be, when he was younger they had found a heart mummer and did some test then but it seems we couldnt find the right dr. to do a ped. ekg . he hasnt had much trouble with it until now even when his astma acts up we didnt notice anything wrong,
April 28, 2010 - 11:58pmThis Comment
Anon,
I'm so glad you took your son to the doctor and they did an EKG. Can you tell us what they found, and why they are sending you to a specialist?
April 30, 2010 - 8:37amThis Comment
MY DAUGHTER IS TURNING 12. JUST A BIT YOUNGER THAN YOUR CHILD. WE HAVE BEEN SO HAPPY TOGETHER BUT LATELY SOMETHINGS HAVE BEEN BOTHERING US. SHE HAD 2 EPISODES OF FAINTING SPELLS. DUE TO HEAT STROKE, AND A BLOOD TESTING INCIDENT. COULD YOU SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE ON HOW YOU DEALT WITH YOUR CHILD'S MISFORTUNE.
March 27, 2009 - 4:09amThis Comment
Many kids nowadays are pushing their bodies more and at the same time their eating habits are inappropriate to replinish or refuel the body with needed nutrients. Episodes of fainting among teens (or even pre-teens) are known as vasovagal syncope. There are many causes including hyperventilation or emotional roots. My daughter had two fainting spells while she was 12 both during her Karate class. Unfortunately one resulted on 5 stiches on her chin due to the fall she took. I am pretty sure her case was due to lack of minerals and breakfast which she used to skip. She learned her lesson and after the second episode, she now makes sure to eat a high protein meal, plenty of water, and bananas before any sport practice in order to endure the physical demands to her body.
This link from Duke University offers some information on syncope among kids. http://www.dukehealth.org/HealthLibrary/AdviceFromDoctors/YourChildsHealth/fainting
February 6, 2009 - 11:46pmThis Comment
I fainted as a kid as I was a very picky eater and would pass out from hunger, usually at assembly or another time when I had to stand for ages....I'm fine now. I never even went to a doctor as my parents knew I hated food. I started eating like crazy when I went to college and could choose what I liked!
February 6, 2009 - 12:16pmThis Comment
You know, I was a fainter when I was little. I would suddenly see spots and pass out cold for a few minutes -- several times at school, at church and at summer camp. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason, but my doctors over the years theorized that maybe I hadn't had enough to eat at the time, and had low blood sugar, or I'd been standing up for a long period of time or something. As an adult, I've fainted twice, and they were both occasions when I had food poisoning -- once in college and once just last year. (I did nearly faint last year when I had an incident with scissors here at the EmpowHer office, but Michelle saved me by holding a cold soda can to the back of my neck.)
I'm sure our experts will look at your question in more depth. Just wanted you to know that I was a childhood fainter, for some unknown reason, and I turned out okay.....
February 6, 2009 - 12:12pmThis Comment