This questionnaire covers fainting, dizziness, symptoms of faintness and unsteadiness, different types of loss of consciousness, such as convulsions and “blankness” episodes. Many children have occasional dizziness, which is typically brought on by worry or hunger, but persistent dizziness or attacks in which a kid experiences uncontrollable movements of the body or limbs may be symptoms of an underlying problem.
CAUTION
Persistent unconsciousness
If your child is breathing regularly and regains awareness within a minute or two after experiencing a brief loss of consciousness, it is usually not a cause for concern. But, if your child’s breathing slows down, becomes irregular, or becomes noisy, seek medical attention at once.
Treatment for fainting
Preferably, a child who feels dizzy or has fainted should be laid down with their legs lifted. If it’s not possible, put your child’s head between their knees and seat them down on a chair. Make sure the child has access to plenty of fresh air and is protected from the sun by loosening any tight clothing. Do not let your child get up right away when he or she regains consciousness. Wait a few minutes. Provide a sweet drink and a light snack to a child who feels dizzy or has fainted since they may be experiencing low blood sugar as a result of not eating. Never attempt to feed or drink an unconscious child.
EPILEPSY
The medical word for repeated unconsciousness caused on by aberrant electrical impulses in the brain is epilepsy. This disorder’s underlying cause is unknown. Depending on the nature of the aberrant impulses and the afflicted portion of the brain, the type and degree of symptoms may change. The sickness comes in two main forms.
Grand mal
Is a disease in which a child suddenly falls to the ground and may get injuries as a result of the fall. For up to several minutes, he or she is still asleep and frequently jerks their face or limbs. The youngster eventually falls asleep normally as the motions stop.
Petit mal
Petit mal epilepsy causes a youngster to lose consciousness completely but not to pass out. The youngster stops speaking and does not hear what is being said for the first 10 to 15 seconds of the attack, at which time the child’s face goes blank.
Treatment
Your kid will likely be referred to a specialist (neurologist) for diagnosis and treatment if episodes of loss of consciousness cause your doctor to suspect that your child has an epilepsy-related condition. Electroencephalography is typically followed by a diagnosis of the disease’s precise form and judgements regarding the best course of treatment for a youngster. The majority of epilepsy types can be properly treated with medication. Your neurologist will discuss any additional safety measures you may need to take when participating in activities like swimming, cycling, and other sports, as well as how to handle attacks. You should inform your child’s teachers and anybody else who regularly looks after your child about the illness and instruct them on what to do in case of an attack.
Dealing with attacks
Your top concerns during a grand mal attack should be keeping your child from getting hurt or inhaling vomit. Place the youngster on his or her stomach with the head to one side at the first indication of an assault. Do not try to stop the youngster from moving; instead, move surrounding objects away from jerking arms and legs. Never attempt to put anything in an attacking child’s mouth. A youngster experiencing a petit mal attack doesn’t require any special care and should be left alone to regain normal consciousness.
