Fainting
Also
known as: Snycope
What is
it?
Fainting (also known as syncope) is a
short-term loss of consciousness, usually for less
than one minute.
What
causes it?
Fainting is usually caused by a momentary loss
of blood flow to the brain. The four most common
causes are sudden stress (such as witnessing a
traumatic event), extreme pain, standing in one
position for a long period of time, or suddenly
standing up from a sitting or prone position. Falling
or lying down usually improves the flow of blood
to the brain.
Children who have fainted from such causes
recover quickly after lying down for a few
minutes. With
children, loss of consciousness can also be caused
by episodes of breath-holding.
What are
the symptoms?
Fainting is often preceded by feelings of
dizziness or nausea.
What is
the treatment?
If your child faints, have him or her lie down
for 10 to 15 minutes with the feet elevated. Make
sure his or her airways are clear, and that the
pulse is strong.
If there are no signs of breathing or the
pulse is slow or weak, the problem is more serious
than fainting, and you must begin cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR).
A cold washcloth on the forehead often
helps to relieve the feeling of faintness. Once
your child is conscious, a glass of fruit juice
will help raise the blood sugar and reduce nausea
and dizziness.
If the fainting was caused by some type of stress, talk with
your child about what happened. Frequent fainting
can be a sign of a more serious problem, fainting
episodes in children should always be reported to
your physician.
Self-care
tips
If your child must stand for long periods of
time, make sure he or she knows to relax the leg
muscles rather than keeping the knees locked. This
will maintain the flow of blood to the brain.
Explain to your child that standing
suddenly from a seated position can also cause
feelings of faintness.
If your child begins to feel faint,
fainting can be prevented by sitting down and
placing the head between the knees.
This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference
guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written
by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your
physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice.
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