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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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Let us know what your family doctor says!
January 6, 2011 - 9:45amThis Comment
My 16 year old daughter passed out about a month ago while cheering at a football game during prayer time. She went to kneel down and collapsed and nose dove into the ground. She stayed out cold for about 45 minutes. During all of that she had 7 seizures. She has had EEGs EKGs and Spinal taps. All show nothing. She was okay for a couple of weeks and now has stareted passing out alot. almost daily. When she comes to she has to think a while before she realizes where she is. and she shakes before and after she passes out and has a minor headache before and a major headache afterwards. Her body hurts like she has stayed in a small box for hours. And her legs go numb and she sees black dots. What could this be?
November 1, 2010 - 8:15amThis Comment
Anon - I'm sorry to hear that you and your daughter are going through this. We are not able to provide a diagnosis for your daughter. If you feel you are not getting appropriate care you may want to consider seeking an evaluation from medical providers that specialize in conditions impacting the nervous system. If you need help with this please let us know what city and state you're in and we will do some research for you.
November 1, 2010 - 5:39pmTake care,
Pat
This Comment
My 16 year old daughter passed out about a month ago while cheering at a football game during prayer time. She went to kneel down and collapsed and nose dove into the ground. She stayed out cold for about 45 minutes. During all of that she had 7 seizures. She has had EEGs EKGs and Spinal taps. All show nothing. She was okay for a couple of weeks and now has stareted passing out alot. almost daily. When she comes to she has to think a while before she realizes where she is. and she shakes before and after she passes out and has a minor headache before and a major headache afterwards. Her body hurts like she has stayed in a small box for hours. And her legs go numb and she sees black dots. What could this be?
November 1, 2010 - 8:15amThis Comment
Your daughters symptoms sound very similar to my 14y/o daughter's (I posted her story above several weeks ago). After 3 months worth of research (all the tests, etc), the diagnosis is PNES (Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures) which is a manifestation of Conversion Disorder (a subcategory of Somatoform Disorder). Please use these key phrases and take a look on the web; facebook, etc...you might find a lot of helpful info there. Good Luck :)
November 1, 2010 - 8:59amThis Comment
My daughter is 14 and has epilepsy...however her seizures are controlled with medication for years. Just over a month ago she started passing out...all the time, day and night, for no reason. We have had the following tests: Full CBC, 48 hour EKG, Heart Ultrasound, CT scan, 4 hour EEG and MRI w/wo contrast. all of the episodes she is having are non-epileptic and all of the tests reveal a very healthy, normal body system - every test came back negative or otherwise normal. This means that she is NOT anemic or diabetic, NOT dehydrated, NOT experiencing any heart related troubles, she has NO new brain issues or abnormalities...NOTHING! It is so frustrating. There are just NO answers forthcoming. The experts are wondering if this isnt simply a matter of stress/hormones/adolesence - but THAT doesnt fit either as she has been having her cycles for several years already and is a very happy kid! The only other test recommeded has been to have her psychoanalyzed for some kind of problem of that nature, but I know my daughter and these tests will likley reveal nothing. there has just GOT to be something they are missing!!!...if this phenomenon ends up going undiagnosed I am left to hope that it won't last and we can resume a normal life again.
September 10, 2010 - 7:06amThis Comment
I can imagine how frustrating and scary this would be. Was she doing anything in particular before the episodes? Is she still fainting, or has it stopped?
It sounds like your doctors are taking this very seriously, which is good news. That isn't always the case. Sometimes it can be hard to diagnose something if it doesn't happen during the test. I hope you get the answer soon.
September 11, 2010 - 8:28amThis Comment
my son is 11 ans he fainted while I was cutting his hair in our kitchen. He was standing at the time, but not for very long. As a matter of fact, i would cut his hair standing up every few weeks. We rushed him to the e.r. and they did an ekg. It came back normal. So we followed up with his pediatrician 2 days later. She thought it had to do with the stimulus of the hair cut on his scalp and that she's used to hearing fainting stories of teens and pre teens fainting while even sitting getting their hair braided or cut. She suggested that he sits from now on during his haircuts and that if he ever feels light headed again wherever he's at.. lay down as quickly as he can. (it will help the black out and not getting hurt) It also helpd that day when I put his feet and legs up on a big pillow. That made his color come back fast. It was scary.. but I believe strongly in prayer. ~always!
July 27, 2010 - 9:16amThis Comment
Thank you for sharing your story...and I am happy to hear that your son is OK!
I would have actually guessed that the fainting would be from the kids holding their breath, as if you are standing and getting a hair cut, you don't want the person messing up, so to be as still as possible, I could imagine some kids are holding their breath or breathing very shallow.
Can you explain more how fainting would be from the stimulus of the haircut on the scalp?
July 27, 2010 - 2:17pmThis Comment
My son is 8 years old and he passed out for no reason! Not low blood sugar and he was in A/C. The doctor did an ekg and tested urine for sugar problems. Everything came back normal! I am frustrated because 8 year olds just don't pass out or faint for no reason. Have any of you heard of someone so young just passing out like that?????
June 6, 2010 - 3:07pmThis Comment