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Fainting Spells in Children

Leo Leonidas MD, FAAP

WARNING, WARNING, WARNING; This section is for my Tufts University medical students. If you are a "worrier" type or a very anxious parent, please talk to your clinician about your child's problem or symptoms, rather than reading this differential diagnosis listing.

CAUSES OF FAINTING SPELLS

VASOVAGAL SYNCOPE - The most common cause of fainting spell specially in teenagers. It is usually provoked by hunger, fatigue, prolonged standing, heat, sight of blood, or pain. Sometimes it is preceeded by lightheadedness, dizziness, cold sweat, and paleness. A similar fainting spell may occur some family members.

HYSTERICAL FAINTING

CARDIOVASCULAR CAUSES

Cardiac Anomalies (Sever Aortic Stenosis, Sever Pulmonary Stenosis, Tetralogy of Fallot, Truncus Arteriosus, Transposition of Great Vessels)

Dysrhytmias (Long Q-T, PAT, Stokes-Adams Syncope, Sinus Node dysfuntion, etc.)

Primary Pulmonary Hypertention

Carotid Sinus syncope

Postural Hypotension

Left Atrial Myxoma

Myocardial Infarction


BREATH HOLDING

HYPERVENTILATION

EPILEPSY

OTHER CAUSES

Cough
Micturition
Cerebellar Brain Stem Tumor
Paracentesis
Adrenal Insufficiency
Severe Anemia
Anterior Mediastinal Tumor
Acquired Post-ganglionic Cholinergic Dysautonomia
Swallowing (related to increased vagal tone with second degree heart block)

Reference:
Signs & Symptoms In Pediatrics
2nd Edition, page 316
Tunnessen, Jr

Belly Pain   Air Leaks From Lungs   Acute Crying   Back Pain   Bed Wetting   Big Lymph Node   Big Spleen   Blood in Urine Chronic Diarrhea   Chest Pain   Cough   Coughing Up Blood   Constipation Droopy Eye   Enlarged Glands   Eye Swelling   Excessive Thrist   Facial Paralysis   Fainting Spell   Feeding Problem GI Bleeding   Headache   Head Tilt   Hives   High ESR   Hoarseness   Joint Pain   Limp   Leg Pain   Muscle Weakness   Noisy Breathing   Nose Bleeding   Nose Obstruction   Pyuria   Recurrent Infection   Red Green Urine   Ringing in the Ears Scrotal Swelling   Seizures   Stiff Neck   Swelling of the Parotic Gland   Toe Walking   Toeing In   Toeing Out   Unequal Pupils   Vomiting   Wheezing

Leo Leonidas, MD, FAAP
Assistant Clinical Professor in Pediatrics
Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston
Attending Pediatrician
Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor

BANGOR, MAINE: "First City with EBPP (Evidence Based Pediatrics for Parents) Website"

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