Fainting in childhood: what to look for. Fainting in children - causes Loss of consciousness in a child of 6 years

Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness associated with impaired brain function. The human brain is like a computer that constantly works and processes a large amount of information, and the human mind is its monitor, which displays all the processes that occur in our head. If the "computer" does not work, then the "monitor" is turned off.
Fainting is like a protective function of the body, it helps protect the brain from overload, which can lead to irreversible impairment of its functions.

Possible causes of fainting in children

Lead to the appearance of fainting can be both external and internal causes.

External causes of fainting include:

1) Ambient temperature increase. The brain produces a large amount of energy in the course of its work, which must be dissipated in the environment. If the ambient temperature rises, heat transfer begins to decrease, energy accumulates in the brain and is not spent anywhere, it becomes more and more and the brain “overheats”. In order to reduce the load, the brain "turns off". During inactivity, new energy is not formed, and the old one is slowly dissipated in the environment. When the balance in the body returns to normal, consciousness is restored.

2) Reducing the amount of oxygen in the environment. Oxygen is essential for brain function. Brain cells consume the largest amount of it, so the brain has its own independent circulation, through which blood from the lungs, in which it is enriched with oxygen, is immediately sent to the brain. If the amount of oxygen in the environment begins to decrease, brain cells experience oxygen starvation and “refuse” to work. This condition can be observed when climbing mountains.

3) Increase in the content of carbon oxides in the inhaled air. In this case, the process is somewhat similar to the previous one, since the cells in this case also experience oxygen starvation, however, the amount of oxygen in the environment can remain at normal levels. This can be explained by the fact that carbon monoxide (CO) has a greater affinity for hemoglobin, so even if enough oxygen enters the body with inhaled air, it still does not combine with hemoglobin, since all its molecules are already occupied by carbon monoxide. This condition can be observed in children with carbon monoxide poisoning due to improper use of stoves for heating houses.

4) Reduced intake of nutrients in the child's body. The nutrition of the child should be rational and balanced. Prolonged fasting is not allowed in children and adolescents, and the concept of diet should only be medical, that is, prescribed by a doctor if necessary, and not a glossy magazine. Brain cells for their work use not only oxygen, but also nutrients, in particular glucose. If proteins and fats in the child's body are used to build their own cells and tissues, then glucose is a source of energy. Without glucose, not a single process in our body is possible. Its reserve is in the liver in the form of glycogen, but it takes time to deliver it from this reserve to the necessary tissues and organs. Therefore, the child must eat properly so that the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood is constant.

5) Emotional outburst. Very often, strong emotions can provoke a child to faint. It most often manifests itself in adolescence and girls are more susceptible. This is due to the appearance of hormonal changes and the restructuring of the organs and systems of the body of children. Such violent emotions can be: fear, fright, joy.

6) Fatigue. The child must have the correct daily routine: sufficient night sleep, if necessary, additional sleep during the day. If a child does not get enough sleep, during which the brain “rests”, a situation may arise when brain cells refuse to perform their functions due to overload in work.

Internal causes of fainting include:

1) The child has anemia(decreased hemoglobin content in the blood). Hemoglobin is responsible for the transport of oxygen in our body. If hemoglobin becomes low, then much less oxygen is delivered to cells and tissues. Because of this, brain cells experience oxygen starvation and cannot function normally.

2) brain tumors. The presence of a tumor in the brain disrupts its proper functioning. Nerve impulses do not pass to the organs to which they should go, they can return back and cause an "overload" of the brain.

3) Heart disease. Congenital malformations, myocardial dystrophy with rhythm disturbance, extrasystoles can lead to disruption of the heart, and because of this, there is a violation in the delivery of blood to the brain. Brain cells experience starvation and begin to work poorly.

4) Autonomic dysfunction. In our body, there are two vegetative systems that are responsible for the work of all organs. One system enhances the work of organs, the other, on the contrary, slows it down. Normally, these systems are in balance, but in adolescents during puberty, a hormonal crisis begins - a large amount of hormones is released into the bloodstream. This upsets the balance between these two systems, which is manifested in the predominance of one of the vegetative systems. Because of this, blood pressure changes, a spasm of the blood vessels of the brain occurs, and the functioning of brain cells is disrupted.

5) Diabetes. This disease does not cause fainting by itself, but improper use of insulin can lead to a sharp drop in blood sugar. As mentioned earlier, sugar (glucose) is an energy supplier in our body, so a sharp decrease in its content in the blood leads to starvation of brain cells, which can cause fainting, and in severe cases, coma.

6) Spasm of cerebral vessels. It can be either a manifestation of autonomic dysfunction, or a congenital or hereditary pathology. In this case, the brain cells experience starvation and "refuse" to work.

7) Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. This disease has become quite common now, not only in adults, but also in children. This is our fee for "upright walking". In the vertical position of the body, the load on the spine is very large, therefore, under the influence of gravity, structural changes begin to occur in the cartilage and ligaments of the spine. Cartilages become thinner, hernias appear in the ligaments of the spinal column. All this disrupts the movement of blood through the blood vessels that lie in the immediate vicinity of the spine or pass through it. Therefore, with such disorders, the blood supply to the brain cells is much worse, and the cells experience hunger, both oxygen and energy.

8) Concussions. With strong blows, a violation of the function of the brain occurs, certain areas may be inactive, because of this, fainting may occur in the child.

Examination of a child with fainting

To diagnose and establish an accurate diagnosis, a comprehensive and very thorough examination of the child is necessary. It is necessary to start with a survey of the child and parents: when did the first fainting appear, what preceded them, what has changed in the child's daily life, does he feel any discomfort or pain.

After that, it is necessary to conduct general clinical examinations: take a general blood test, blood for sugar, make an ECG. Be sure to consult a neurologist, endocrinologist, cardiologist. If there are indications, a neurologist can prescribe an EEG (electroencephalogram) of the brain in order to identify abnormalities in the functioning of the brain and determine the level of blood supply to the cerebral vessels. If there are changes in the ECG (blockade, extrasystoles), Holter monitoring is recommended. This is a study when a child is hung with sensors that take readings of the heart during the day (daily ECG), and allows you to set the frequency of heart rhythm disturbances and the factors that provoke them. Also, if there are changes on the ECG, it is necessary to do an ultrasound of the heart, since these changes can be triggered by malformations of the heart. If a brain tumor is suspected, an MRI of the head is indicated to clarify the diagnosis.

First aid for a child with fainting

First aid for a child with fainting is to lay him on a flat surface, to achieve an influx of fresh air. You can not surround the child with a tight ring, this reduces the amount of oxygen in the air around the child. If fainting happened indoors, then if possible, it is necessary to take the child outside. A good effect is the inhalation of vapors of ammonia. However, it must be remembered that in no case should you bring a bottle of alcohol to the nose of a child, as the child can jerk sharply and knock over this bottle on himself and thereby burn his eyes or oral mucosa. To avoid this, it is necessary to moisten a cotton swab with ammonia, and give it to the child to sniff. Ammonia is rubbed into the temples of a child so that, evaporating, it slightly cools the brain. You can also apply ice to the child's head, however, it should not be just ice, it is best to use a plastic bag filled with water and ice. After all this, you must definitely seek medical help.

Treatment of fainting in children

The treatment of fainting is to eliminate the cause that causes them. It is necessary to normalize the daily routine of the child, nutrition should be balanced and evenly distributed throughout the day. You need to stop dieting. Children with vegetative dysfunction are well helped by morning exercises, massage, swimming pool, baths with various soothing plants (chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, bergamot, sage, cypress). With changes in the ECG, it is possible to use vitamins and trace elements to nourish the heart muscle. One of these drugs is Magne B6, which contains the trace element magnesium and vitamin B6. In carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, it is very important to increase the amount of oxygen inhaled in order to displace carbon monoxide from hemoglobin. For this purpose, the child is given a mask to inhale pure oxygen. In the presence of a brain tumor, the observation of a neurosurgeon and the solution of the issue of its prompt removal are indicated.

Pediatrician Litashov M.V.

The main goal of consciousness is to provide knowledge and reflection of real events. In addition, it allows a person to get used to the environment. If a child begins to suffer from conditions associated with sudden disorders of consciousness, then this should certainly be alarming.

The problem of children's syncope, unfortunately, is not uncommon. Physicians and parents may often encounter a circumstance in which children faint. With them, the child loses consciousness. This phenomenon is short-term and is usually associated with a sharp deterioration in cerebral circulation. There can be many reasons for this, but the main pathogenetic link is hypoxia, which is caused by insufficient blood supply to the brain.

The human brain can be compared to a computer through which a large amount of information passes that needs to be carefully processed. And this happens continuously throughout life. The brain is a kind of system unit, and consciousness acts as a monitor. It is the result of information processing and reflects all the events that occur. If the system unit fails, then, of course, the monitor will also fail.

Pre-fainting symptoms

Fainting is a kind of protective reaction of the body, protecting the brain structures for some time, putting them out of work. It doesn't just appear out of nowhere. It is always preceded by a fainting state.

It is characterized by a number of features:

• The appearance of sudden dizziness.
• Reason suddenly becomes unclear.
• There is a ringing in the ears.
• “Flies” and “stars” begin to flicker before the eyes.
• Legs become unstable.
• The child begins to sweat intensely, as they often say - sweat comes in "hail".

Fainting and acute disorders of metabolic processes in the brain are inextricably linked with each other. In childhood, most often fainting occurs in schoolchildren. This is due to the fact that the pubertal period is characterized by imperfection, when vascular tone is regulated.

Fainting in a child: a clinical picture

In terms of depth and duration of loss of consciousness, syncope is characterized by wide variability. Usually, they fit in the interval from a few to 30 minutes.

For a child in a fainting state, a number of objective signs are characteristic:

1. Paleness of the skin.
2. Presence of cold clammy sweat.
3. Superficial nature of breathing. Excursion movements of the chest are almost invisible.
4. The pulse is weak.
5. Peripheral arterial pressure is reduced.
6. Severe slowness of the pulse, which is often replaced by tachycardia.

If you take a horizontal position, then fainting will pass much faster. This is due to the redistribution of blood and its more intense flow to the brain. Often the situation is stopped on its own without outside medical help.

Fainting in a child: causes and classification of fainting in children

If there is a deep hypoxia or hypoglycemia, then there are metabolic failures in the brain structures. It is with this that the occurrence of such states is connected. In this case, the presence of a reflex neurogenic spasm of the cerebral vessels is characteristic. The process also involves the vagus nerve (n. vagus), which has a parasympathetic effect on the heart and vascular apparatus. This leads to a sharp decrease in vascular tone in the periphery, with a pronounced slowing of the heart rate (bradycardia).

In 1995, E. N. Ostapenko classified the most common childhood syncope.

In accordance with this, the following types of children's fainting are distinguished:

• Vasodepressor type. This type is the most common. This happens in connection with some kind of stressful situation. More often this is associated with various medical manipulations, for example, injections.
• Orthostatic type of hypotension. This option is functional in nature and occurs due to insufficient movements in the daily cycle of children. But it can also be associated with organic matter, the background for which can be diabetes mellitus, amyloidosis, neoplasms of the central nervous system, and other conditions. The reason for the development of such fainting conditions lies in the insufficiency that vasopressor mechanisms have.
• Fainting by reflex type. It can be a response to procedures performed on reflexogenic zones. This applies to the throat, larynx, carotid sinus, and some other areas. This condition occurs due to irritation of the vagus nerve. If you palpate the place of bifurcation (a.carotis), then in response you can get vasodepression.
• Fainting associated with a specific situation. It can occur when coughing in the form of seizures, strong straining during defecation, excessive efforts to urinate. In the end, it can be obtained even with a sharp lifting of a heavy object. This is due to the fact that the pressure inside the chest increases, which makes it difficult for the outflow of blood from the brain.
• Syncope associated with hyperventilation syndrome. This can be observed in children's hysterical seizures. A hysterical seizure can provoke the occurrence of a state of hypocapnia, spasm of cerebral vessels and, as a result, the development of cerebral ischemia.

Such knowledge in many ways sheds light on such a thing as fainting in a child, the causes of which, as we see, can be very different. By its nature, the causal relationship of syncope can be associated with external and internal circumstances.

External factors contributing to fainting

There are several. They boil down to the following points:

1. Air temperature fluctuation in the surrounding air space. The activity of brain structures is associated with the release of a large amount of energy potential. In fact, the energy component should not accumulate, it must be dissipated in the surrounding space. With its increase, the heat transfer indicators decrease. Energy dissipation does not occur. If we roughly characterize the situation that has arisen, then the brain simply “overheats”. At the same time, compensatory and protective mechanisms are included in the work. The brain shuts down for a while. In this case, the formation of new energy does not occur, and the already accumulated energy component is gradually dissipated. There comes a balanced balance and the brain is again included in its activity.
2. Reducing the percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere. The work of the brain is associated with the need for oxygen supply in sufficient quantities. Under anaerobic conditions, the brain cannot work. It actively functions only in aerobic conditions. The delivery of oxygen is carried out by the blood. Therefore, brain structures have their own circle of blood circulation. In the lungs, blood is enriched with oxygen, and it enters the brain from them. Oxygen deficiency causes less enrichment of the blood. Neurocytes are very sensitive to hypoxia and will not work normally in such conditions. A similar phenomenon can be observed, for example, when a person climbs a mountain.
3. High amount of carbon monoxide in exhaled air. A similar condition can occur even if there is enough oxygen in the outside air. Carbon monoxide exhibits a pronounced tropism for hemoglobin, quickly binds to it, forming carboxyhemoglobin. The abundance of oxygen does not yet mean that the blood will be fully enriched with it. The fact is that it simply cannot contact the heme of the blood, since carbon dioxide is already in its place. This can be observed with carbon monoxide poisoning, for example, with a malfunction of furnace equipment.
4. Insufficient amounts of various nutrients. The diet of children should be rational and balanced. Prolonged fasting of children and adolescents should not be allowed. Children should learn about the diet only from medical indications recommended by the doctor, and not from other sources. After all, oxygen alone is not enough for the cellular structures of the brain. They still need nutrients. The most important among them is given to glucose, since it is an energy source. Not a single process in the body can do without it. The body, as a complex mechanism, makes a reserve, depositing it in various organs. At the most urgent moment, he extracts it from them and delivers it to its destination. Therefore, the nutrition of children plays an important role.
5. The presence of an emotional outburst. Emotions are often the culprit in children's fainting. This is most pronounced in adolescence, and in girls it is more intense than in boys. This is due to hormonal changes that cause the restructuring of the body as a whole. It is mainly about stormy emotions, a feeling of joy, fear, fright.
6. fatigue factor. To exclude it, it is necessary to properly organize the regime, or at least its main points. Sleep should be sufficient and properly organized. After all, during it the brain rests. Physiologically, sleep is a kind of salvation for the brain from overload.

The child fainted: reasonsinternal

The main ones are:

• Anemia. The condition is associated with a reduced amount of hemoglobin in the blood. This blood protein is responsible for transporting oxygen to organs and tissues. If hemoglobin decreases, then less oxygen will be delivered to the cellular structures of the brain. At the same time, neurocytes are in a state of oxygen starvation, which naturally affects their function.
• Conditions associated with neoplasms of the brain. Tumors of the brain tissue inevitably lead to impaired brain function. The normal transmission of nerve impulses is disrupted. They cannot freely enter the organs and return back. This condition can "overload" the brain.
• Heart pathology. Various functional and organ disorders of the heart muscle cause disruptions in blood delivery to the brain. Together with it, he receives less oxygen. The consequences of this become quite clear.
• Conditions associated with autonomic dysfunction. The autonomic system of the body is presented in sympathetic and parasympathetic versions. They are responsible for the work of all organs without exception. In the absence of pathology, these systems are in equilibrium. But the puberty of a teenager is associated with a hormonal surge, in which a large amount of hormones is released into the blood. In this case, this balance is disturbed. One system prevails over the other, causing pressure surges and vasospasm. Including suffer from the vessels of the brain.
• Having a history of diabetes. The influence here is indirect, since the disease itself does not cause fainting. But the wrong use of insulin can cause a sharp drop in blood sugar, and this, in turn, can cause fainting. In severe cases, the consequences are not limited to fainting alone, perhaps even the development of coma.
• Conditions due to spasm of cerebral vessels. They can be both functional and organic in nature, due to congenital or acquired pathology.
• The presence of osteochondrosis in the cervical spine. Such suffering is the "reward" for walking upright. In the vertical position, the spine experiences significant loads, as a result of which destructive changes occur in the cartilaginous tissue of the spine. Due to the thinning of the cartilage, a hernia occurs, which, squeezing the vessels, disrupts the blood flow through them. As a result of this, less blood is supplied to cellular structures, including the brain, and, consequently, they are not sufficiently saturated with oxygen. As a result, brain function begins to suffer.

What precedes fainting?

Before losing consciousness, the child will definitely feel some symptoms.

• Just before fainting, weakness will be felt throughout the body. It has a pronounced spilled character.
• The skin becomes pale, and the child himself begins to yawn.
• The limbs become cold to the touch.
• Your mouth becomes dry.
• Shortness of breath and shortness of breath are noted.
• In the ears begins to ring, and a bright veil covers the eyes.

A few seconds later, the child falls.

Diagnostics

To successfully combat fainting and prevent them, it is necessary to establish the reasons why they occur. Only in this case, all therapeutic measures will be effective.

Great help in diagnosing and establishing causes is played laboratory and instrumental studies. First of all, this applies to blood tests.

1. It is necessary to carry out general clinical analysis, and analysis to determine blood sugar.
2. Must be removed electrocardiogram.
3. To establish the cause, it is necessary consultation of narrow specialists. The child is examined by a cardiologist, endocrinologist, neurologist.
4. 24-hour monitoring of the work of the heart is of great help in the diagnosis. If any changes are found, Ultrasound of the heart.
5. If there is a suspicion of a neoplasm in the brain, then a MRI.
6. Much attention is paid collection of anamnesis. It is necessary to assemble it as carefully as possible. The doctor should be interested in many circumstances. The child can answer some of the questions himself, but the parents will provide the main information.

• It is necessary to inquire about whether fainting has happened before. If so, what is the frequency of their occurrence.
• What precedes the onset of fainting.
• With what the patient himself or parents associate the appearance of such conditions.
• Family history information is required. Have the parents or close relatives ever fainted?

Detailed information in the collection of anamnesis can shed light on many things that will help to establish the causes of syncope.

How to distinguish between fainting and loss of consciousness?

For greater clarity, the differences can be presented in the form of a table:

It doesn’t matter what happens, fainting or loss of consciousness, urgent measures must be taken in both cases.

First aid for fainting

All activities are carried out in a certain sequence. The algorithm of actions is reduced to the following points:

1. The child should be laid so as to give the body a horizontal position. The lower limbs should be in an elevated position. To do this, a roller is placed under the knees. You can simply throw your legs on the back of the bed or sofa.
2. It is necessary to free the neck and chest from tight clothing. Buttons are unbuttoned on the collar, and free access to air is provided. In addition to this, it does not hurt to open windows and doors, providing an influx of oxygen.
3. Whiskey can be rubbed with ammonia. A swab moistened with ammonia is brought to the nose of the child. It is impossible to carry out the presentation of the entire vial with a solution of ammonia. With sudden movements of the head, the liquid from the vial may spill onto it. As a result, you can get a burn of the mucous membranes.
4. An ice pack should be applied to the child's head. If it is not available, you can pour water or put ice in a regular plastic bag.

It is imperative that you seek medical attention. Appropriate treatment will be prescribed, and in severe cases, hospitalization will be offered.

Treatment

The main direction in treatment is to eliminate the causes of fainting.

• Without fail, the child needs to correctly organize the day with strict observance of the main regime moments.
• In addition, it is necessary organization of proper balanced nutrition. Food should be rich in vitamins and minerals. It is necessary to exclude monotony in nutrition. Food should be varied in composition.
• If there is an autonomic dysfunction, a good remedy would be daily morning work-out. Not bad if the child will go to the pool.
• shown bathing with medicinal herbs with a sedative effect (melissa, chamomile, bergamot, other medicinal herbs).
• If there are abnormalities on the ECG, you should prescribe preparations that nourish the heart muscle, vitamins.
• If carbon monoxide is the cause, ensure maximum supply of oxygen. For this purpose, a mask inhalation of oxygen is shown.
• With neoplasms in the nervous structures, the action plan will be outlined by a neurologist, who should be consulted.

Preventive measures

With impending signs of fainting, provocateurs are eliminated. The child can be laid down by opening the window, or vice versa - taken out into the fresh air. You can wash with cool water.

If the cause was a hungry faint, then the child needs to eat something. It is better if it is sweet food. You can drink juice or lemonade. It is necessary to avoid provoking factors. The child should sleep well and receive good nutrition.

With frequent fainting, such children should be under the close supervision of medical specialists. Parents should also pay increased attention to the prevention of such conditions. It is necessary to exclude everything that can cause situations in which children and adolescents lose consciousness. Compliance with such measures will protect your child from undesirable consequences.

Conclusion

• Parents must make every effort to determine the cause of fainting in their child.
• If fainting recurs frequently, this circumstance cannot be ignored, you should seek the advice of an appropriate specialist.
• Parents should be trained in first aid for fainting.

Fainting- this is a sudden short-term loss of consciousness associated with a sharp outflow of blood from the brain. Clinically, this pathology is as follows. First, there is a sharp weakness, dizziness, nausea, noise in the head, darkening or flies in the eyes, discomfort in the abdomen and heart. The child turns pale and falls, limp, settling on the floor or sharply (flat). Within 10-40 seconds the child is unconscious, does not respond to appeal to him, while blood pressure is reduced, breathing and heartbeat are weakened. Fainting, even without outside help, stops on its own, the child comes to his senses. After fainting, poor health, weakness, headache, discomfort in the heart and abdomen, pallor, cold sweat are characteristic.

What can cause a child to faint?

Causes of fainting severe pain, emotional shock, hunger, prolonged stay in a stuffy room, especially in a standing position, an infectious disease, acute blood loss, and frequent deep breathing can become. Fainting is also common in children. with disorders of the autonomic nervous system. In children with low blood pressure, loss of consciousness occurs during a rapid transition from a horizontal to a vertical position (if the child stood up abruptly). Traumatic brain injury, such as a concussion, can lead to fainting.

Frequent fainting causes some heart disease. Complete blockade of the conduction system of the heart, Morgagni-Adams-Stokes blockade is clinically manifested by attacks of loss of consciousness (fainting) and convulsions, accompanied by a sharp pallor or blueness of the patient's skin. Usually the attack occurs at night, goes away on its own or requires emergency medical attention.

First aid tactics for fainting

1. Lay the child horizontally without a pillow with the legs raised at an angle of approximately 30°. In this position, blood flows from the legs to the brain.
2. Provide access to fresh air (unbutton the child's collar, remove tight clothes from him, open the window).
3. Any sharp irritants will help to wake up from fainting (spray the child’s face and chest with cold water, pat him on the cheeks, rub his ears, let him smell ammonia or perfume).
4. When the child comes to his senses, do not lift him for some time, ”let him lie down in the same position with his legs elevated. Give the patient to drink hot sweet tea, feed him, if he is hungry, warm him up.

How to behave if the child has frequent fainting?

It doesn't matter if with the child had a single fainting, for a completely understandable reason: for example, the baby is hungry, tired, very overtired. However, if fainting is frequent, occurs for any reason and for no reason, a serious examination is necessary to determine the existing pathology. Recall that fainting is one of the leading symptoms of serious heart disease, so the child must definitely do an electrocardiogram (ECG). Seizures similar to fainting can be observed with epilepsy or diabetes mellitus: consult the child with a neurologist, check the patient's blood for sugar. The cause of frequent fainting is sometimes hysterical seizures, when a child consciously or unwittingly manipulates adults. Such deviations in behavior are treated by a child neuropsychiatrist or psychiatrist; consultation with a psychologist.

Therapy of frequent fainting in a child depends on their cause. Usually prescribe various drugs and physiotherapy. With frequent attacks of the Morgagni-Adams-Stokes syndrome, they resort to a surgical operation, the patient is implanted with a pacemaker.

Pediatrician, homeopath Maria Savinova will talk about the causes of fainting in children and advise how parents should act.

According to statistics, the number of people who have fainted at least once in their lives reaches 40%. In today's article, we will talk about the causes, the necessary examination and first aid for fainting in children.

Fainting(in medicine, the beautiful term “syncope” is used, which means “abrupt interruption” in Greek) is a transient loss of consciousness due to a decrease in blood supply to the brain, which is characterized by a sudden onset, short duration and complete spontaneous recovery. Fainting is usually accompanied by loss of postural tone and a fall.

Fainting is most common in young and old age. In childhood - in children older than 4 years, but Most often, the first episode of loss of consciousness occurs at 15 years of age. both in boys and girls.

A short loss of consciousness, which is accompanied by a loss of the usual tone of all muscle groups, is a syncope, or syncope. The phenomenon is one of the most common signs in childhood.

Thus, 30% of healthy children have experienced at least one episode of loss of consciousness in their entire lives. Most often, syncope occurs in children of school age.

Causes

Factors due to which fainting occurs in a teenager must be divided into two groups: external and internal.

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External

Such reasons should include:

Internal

The presence of anemia, which manifests itself in a reduced concentration of hemoglobin in the blood, is the first of the causes of fainting of the internal order.

Hemoglobin is responsible for transporting oxygen, and if it turns out to be less than necessary, then oxygen enters the cells and tissues in a much smaller amount.

This affects the brain cells that begin to experience oxygen starvation and are not able to work normally.

Other internal factors:

First aid

Whatever the causes of fainting in a teenager, the essence of first aid should always be to ensure blood flow to the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe brain.

The algorithm of actions is the following:

Doctors who arrive at the call are required to introduce a solution of phenylephrine with an obvious decrease in blood pressure. With slowing down of the heart - atropine solution, and with prolonged syncope - caffeine. In case of hypoglycemia, glucose will be needed.

After the attack is over, the child should be given sweet tea or coffee with milk.

Pre-symptoms

The child always knows about the imminent loss of consciousness. A few minutes before this, there is a feeling of diffuse weakness throughout the body, the skin turns pale and a distinct yawn occurs. Less specific pre-symptoms include sweat, slight tingling in any part of the body.

The extremities may become cold and even cottony, dryness is noted in the mouth area. The child begins to choke and, as a result, his heartbeat quickens.

Ringing in the ears and a dense, brightly colored veil before the eyes are noted a few seconds before the child faints.

Treating fainting in a teenager

If serious causes of fainting are found, the main disease should be treated. It may take a long time to diagnose it. Adequate treatment can only be prescribed by a specialist.

The child must carry out regulated loads of the physical plan without fail. Their purpose is to train the vascular system and muscles.

So, you need to do gymnastics, go to the pool and ride a bike. In the absence of physical activity, the state of health deteriorates to a large extent.

Prevention

At the first symptoms of a possible syncope (lethargy, lack of oxygen), the “aggressive” factor must be eliminated. The child needs to sit or lie down, open the window, and even better - take him outside or a balcony. You can drink some cold water and wash your face with it.

If we are talking about, then you need to use something sweet, any juice or lemonade. When a child has a tendency to faint, then it is necessary to avoid any situations that can provoke it. It is important to ensure that there are no falls or bumps to the head.

In order to provide assistance to the child with recurrent seizures, it is recommended to consult a therapist. You may need to consult with specialists such as a neurologist, endocrinologist or cardiologist.

Prevention of fainting conditions involves a full breakfast and diet in general, optimal sleep. It is equally important that in the heat there is always free access to water, a cap or any other headgear that protects from the sun. Long driving and overwork should be avoided.

Medical intervention will help identify the exact causes of syncope, determine the recovery course and preventive measures.

Syncope or syncope is a short-term loss of consciousness. These conditions can occur in both children and adults. However, it is precisely the juvenile representatives of the human race that cause fainting in everyone.

As a rule, the loss of consciousness of the child is preceded by a characteristic fainting state. First, a strong weakness rolls over the baby and a headache appears, it starts to make noise in the ears, and it gets dark in the eyes. Immediately before losing consciousness, the little person turns pale sharply, his eyes roll back, after which fainting occurs, and the child falls.

A child can be in a syncopated state for up to several minutes. The return of consciousness is usually accompanied by weakness and headache. Very young children can fall asleep immediately after fainting.

Causes of fainting in children

Fainting in children can occur for a variety of reasons. The most common ones are listed below.

• Anemia. This disease is one of the main causes of loss of consciousness. The appearance or exacerbation of this disease is most often observed in winter or spring, when there is a lack of vitamins and trace elements in the body, primarily iron. As a result, the level of hemoglobin, the main supplier of oxygen to all organs of the human body, drops. It is oxygen starvation of brain cells that leads to fainting.
  The situation can be corrected only by the intake of iron-containing vitamin complexes and the use of appropriate products.
• Malnutrition. In children, the metabolism is quite fast. If the child does not have a snack on time, this may be the result of a decrease in glucose levels, which in turn can cause loss of consciousness.
  In this case, the child with you must definitely give something for a snack. It can be cookies, yogurt or at least juice, but in no case chips. If the baby regularly faints due to a drop in sugar levels, then this is an occasion to consult a doctor. Such symptoms are typical for the initial stages of diabetes.
• Fears and tantrums. Any stressful situation can lead to fainting in crumbs. Painful injections, drawing blood from a finger, and many other medical procedures cause intense fear in children, which can lead to loss of consciousness. These attacks are not uncommon in children prone to tantrums.
  If a child is very afraid of any procedures or visiting a certain specialist, then he must be prepared in advance and very carefully for such a visit. Doctors should also be warned that the child may fall into a syncope. And in some cases, it will be useful to turn to a child psychologist.
• Diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Pathology of the heart and blood vessels can also cause frequent fainting. In this case, the child, before losing consciousness, feels a rapid beating or fading of the heart.
  If such symptoms are observed, the baby must be shown to a specialist.
• Adolescence. Fainting in adolescence is most often caused by overwork. This usually happens at the end of the school year. Also, fatigue can be the result of lack of sleep. Alas, the boys often uncontrollably spend time playing computer games and go to bed too late. In girls, the causes of loss of consciousness can be the abuse of trendy diets.

First aid for loss of consciousness

The first thing to do when fainting is to lay the child on his back. You can put something under his feet to increase the flow of blood to his head. Also, the baby needs to provide access to fresh air.

To bring a person out of a faint, you can sprinkle his face with water or lightly pat his cheeks. If possible, you can give the offspring a sniff of ammonia.

When the child comes to his senses, be sure to give him juice or some other sweet drink to drink. This will allow the little person to recover faster.

Fainting in children.
One of the most frightening for parents is fainting. If a child loses consciousness, this cannot but worry, because this may indicate health problems, sometimes very serious. How to regard the fainting of children, what they can tell their parents about, what to do, how not to fall into a panic, not to get lost and to help the child correctly and in a timely manner. Let's discuss this.

What are fainting spells?
Fainting is called a temporary loss of consciousness, which is associated with disturbances in the activity of the brain. The human brain performs the functions of a computer that works continuously, processes constantly large amounts of information. Human consciousness is a kind of monitor that displays all the main processes occurring inside our brain. If the brain-computer refuses to work, the consciousness-monitor also turns off. This is how fainting is formed, it is a protective reaction of the body to excessive effects on the brain tissue and the entire body, to such an exciting effect that the child cannot cope with and which can lead to irreversible changes in the brain and disruption of its functions.

Which can lead to fainting.
Syncope can be caused by both external causes of influences that occur in the environment surrounding the child, and internal causes that occur inside the child's body. Let's start with the external factors that can lead to the formation of fainting, the main ones include:

A sharp increase in air temperature (especially in summer or indoors). Brain tissue produces a fairly large amount of energy in the process of life, which must be removed through the thin bones of the skull into the environment and dissipated. Part of the heat is carried away with the blood. If the ambient temperature rises, heat transfer may decrease, then excess energy in the form of heat can accumulate around the brain and is not expended in the environment. Then there is a lot of energy and the brain from heat can overheat. In order not to “boil”, the brain can turn off for a while. This is what happens with heatstroke or the sun. During the shutdown of the brain, energy is not accumulated, but the accumulated energy is spent - the brain cools down and turns on again.

With hypoxia, that is, with a decrease in the concentration of oxygen in the surrounding air. The brain can work only with continuous access of oxygen to its cells, coming through the vessels of the brain. Brain cells consume a lot of oxygen, therefore, the brain has its own circulation for such active nutrition. At the same time, oxygen-rich blood comes from the lungs and immediately goes to the brain so that it receives maximum oxygen. With a decrease in the amount of oxygen, for example. In a closed, stuffy room, the amount of oxygen progressively decreases, while the brain cells begin to suffer from hunger, and the brain shuts down. A similar state can be observed when climbing mountains, where the atmosphere is rarefied.

With hypoxemia or an increase in the concentration of carbon monoxide CO in the air. The process is approximately similar in principle to the previous one, hemoglobin is combined with CO, and he is no longer able to carry oxygen. At the same time, brain cells also experience hypoxia and suffer, although the amount of oxygen in the air is quite enough for breathing. In the competition for hemoglobin, CO gas has an advantage and binds to hemoglobin more actively, so oxygen gets less. Carbon monoxide poisoning is observed during fires, when inhaling exhaust gases, while being in a closed room where there are sources of open fire.

Reduced intake of various nutrients by the baby. Everyone knows that the baby needs to eat properly and rationally, nutrition should be balanced in vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients. It is unacceptable for children and adolescents to starve for a long time, you can not go on diets, especially without the permission of a doctor. If children are starving, they may faint from hunger. Brain cells actively consume not only oxygen, but also glucose, as the main nutrient for brain activity. Without glucose, the brain is malnourished and unable to function, and with fasting and diets, there is usually not enough glucose. Therefore, it is important that the child has a complete and proper diet with enough glucose and all other necessary substances.

Emotional reactions, sometimes excessively strong positive or negative emotions, can give a child a violation of consciousness and fainting. This usually happens during adolescence, and girls are more likely to be affected. All this is associated with hormonal changes in the body - adjustment in the work of organs and systems. Especially often, fainting can cause fear or pain.

Another factor for the development of fainting is severe fatigue with overload. Usually this happens in the absence of daytime sleep and poor night sleep, then the brain does not have time to rest during sleep and makes forced “stops” for itself. This is possible when moving and changing the regime, long trips.

The second group of reasons for the development of fainting are internal factors related to the state of health of the child. These are usually manifestations of acute or chronic diseases, metabolic disorders and other conditions that affect blood circulation and nutrition of the brain. These include:
- a decrease in hemoglobin and anemia in children, in which there is less hemoglobin that carries oxygen to the tissues, and therefore a decrease in it in the brain tissue. At the same time, brain cells during increased work may experience hypoxia and may cease normal functioning.

Tumor processes in the brain. A tumor in the brain compresses the tissues and disrupts the passage of impulses through the brain tissue. At the same time, the brain tissue experiences greater than normal loads and is overloaded. As a result, fainting is formed.

Heart disease with impaired circulation of the brain. Such conditions include myocardial dystrophy with cardiac arrhythmias, extrasystole, giving a violation of heart contractility and circulatory deficit in the small and large circle. As a result, the blood flow to the brain suffers, which gives a malfunction in the brain. Cells experience hypoxia and shut down.

The presence of autonomic dysfunction. The autonomic system is the regulator of all the basic processes in the body, while the organs can work in an autonomous mode enough for our cerebral cortex to do more important things. The autonomic nervous system has two divisions - parasympathetic and sympathetic. They are antagonists - one department activates, the other inhibits certain functions of the internal organs. Due to the balance of their work, balance is achieved in the body. If, due to diseases or congenital or acquired features of the functioning of the autonomic nervous system, the tone of any one of the systems predominates, organ dysfunctions and pathological impulses to the brain may form. As a result, overexcitation of the cortex and fainting are formed. During puberty, manifestations may become aggravated - vago-insular or symptomatic-adrenal crises are formed. In this case, there is a fluctuation in blood pressure or the level of glucose and hormones in the blood, which leads to a depletion of the brain in oxygen or glucose - as a result, fainting becomes one of the manifestations of crises.

The presence of diabetes mellitus, sometimes it is recognized initially by the manifestations of fainting in children. This usually occurs with a sharp decrease in blood glucose levels - hypoglycemia, it happens with fasting, an overdose of insulin, with severe stress or exercise. In this case, there is a sharp consumption of glucose, and if there is no adequate replenishment, hypoglycemia occurs. The brain becomes very hungry and shuts down. In severe cases, fainting can develop into manifestations of coma, a deeper and more serious depression of consciousness.

Vascular spasm in the brain basin is usually a manifestation of autonomic dysfunctions, as well as a hereditary manifestation. In this case, there is a sharp narrowing of the vessels in the basin of one or more cerebral arteries, insufficient blood flows to the brain tissue, and hypoxia occurs with the loss of consciousness.

The development of osteochondrosis in the cervical spine. Yes, it is osteochondrosis, since this disease is far from age-related and it occurs even in newborns. It is formed as a retribution for the mind and upright posture - a rather heavy head presses on the spine, under the influence of gravity, dystrophic and structural changes occur in fragile vertebrae, as a result of which osteochondrosis is formed. In this case, the cartilages between the vertebrae become thinner, hernias form in the ligaments. This disrupts the normal blood flow through the vessels passing in the paravertebral zone or passing through the holes in the vertebrae, and hypoxia attacks occur, oxygen and glucose are delivered to the brain worse. He starts to turn off.

Concussion. With strong impacts, quite strong effects on the brain tissue and pericerebral fluid occur. In this case, the cells can turn off and fainting occurs. This happens due to damage to some parts of the brain.

Fainting in children - clinic and treatment:

Fainting (syncope) is an attack in which there is a loss of consciousness. Syncope is accompanied by a drop in pressure, muscle tone, weak pulse, and shallow breathing. The prevalence of syncope in children under 18 years of age is 15%. The maximum part of all syncopal conditions in adolescents are neurogenic syncope (24-66%), orthostatic (8-10%), cardiogenic (11-14%). A teenager faints due to exposure to stressful situations, a drop in pressure, and the presence of heart disease.

Classification, causes of fainting

There can be many reasons for fainting.

Teenagers faint, why? Fainting has various causes. Depending on this, several varieties of syncope are distinguished.

Reflex:

• vasovagal (in stressful situations, medical procedures, fainting when changing body position);
• situational (provoked by sneezing, cough reflex, playing musical instruments, eating, laughing);
• irritation of the carotid sinus;
• idiopathic.

Orthostatic (with hypotension):

• primary autonomic failure (vegetative dysfunction (VSD), multiple system atrophy, parkinsonism with vegetative disorders, Lewy's dementia praecox);
• secondary autonomic failure (diabetes mellitus, amyloidosis, spinal cord injury);
• toxic hypotension (alcohol-containing substances, diuretics, vasodilators, antidepressants);
• decrease in blood volume (dehydration, blood loss).

Cardiac:

• arrhythmogenic (bradycardia, tachycardia, drug-induced arrhythmias);
• structural (valvular heart disease, pulmonary embolism, aortic aneurysm, hypertension in the lungs).

Vasodepressor syncope can occur in young people in stressful situations

Why did a teenager faint, reasons? The most common cause of fainting in adolescents is neurogenic. In patients, syncope occurs due to severe stress, fear, reflex sneezing, coughing, irritation of the carotid sinus. The most pronounced stress etiology, since the nervous system in adolescents has not yet been formed.

There is evidence that the brain of a child during puberty becomes the most active. This is due to hormonal changes. At puberty, a child can be very excited, irritable, fears, worries, and depression may appear. A depressive state always leads to autonomic dysfunction in adolescents, which contributes to a decrease in pressure, narrowing of the brain vessels. The lack of blood flow leads to fainting.

The causes of fainting in teenagers can be heart disease. They occupy a considerable percentage of all syncope. Syncope occurs due to arrhythmias, as well as organic pathologies of the heart (vessels, valves). With bradyarrhythmia, the heartbeat is too slow. This leads to a slowdown in blood flow, hypoxia of the brain. Tachyarrhythmia is a rapid heartbeat, more than 140 beats per minute. In this case, the heart muscle begins to consume more blood. Over time, the myocardium begins to receive less nutrition, the ventricles do not draw blood well. The amount of blood ejected by the ventricles of the heart decreases, which leads to hypoxia of the brain.

Another cause of fainting in a teenager may be pathology of the valvular apparatus of the heart. If the atrioventricular valves do not work properly, blood flow to the ventricles will continue, but blood output will decrease. The amount of blood expelled becomes less, because when the ventricles contract, the valve does not completely cover the opening to the atrium. Part of the blood during ventricular ejection returns to the atrium. The insufficiency of the atrio-aortic, as well as the valve of the pulmonary trunk, contributes to a decrease in the total emission of blood, oxygen deficiency of tissues (pulmonary, cerebral). Valve disease can occur in both boys and girls.

Why does a teenager faint, reasons? Syncope in adolescents often develops due to improper medication. Many drugs in adolescence can reduce blood pressure, cause tachycardia or bradycardia, severe spasm of cerebral vessels. Usually, with the abolition of these drugs, fainting stops on its own.

Orthostatic syncope can occur due to improper functioning of the autonomic system. The patient's pressure drops sharply, especially when changing position (getting up from a prone position, from a squatting position). In this case, less blood enters the brain, after which the patient loses consciousness. Syncope in girls occurs with heavy periods. The patient can faint with an increase in physical activity during menstruation, as blood loss increases, pressure decreases.

Clinical manifestations of syncope

Almost all fainting spells have the same manifestations. There are several stages of fainting.

Syncope periods:

• presyncopal;
• fainting spell itself;
• postsyncopal.

The pre-syncope period can be manifested by headache, tinnitus, stunning, nausea, dizziness, darkening of the eyes, abdominal discomfort, increased sweating, pressure drop, slight decrease in temperature. The duration of this period ranges from several seconds to several minutes. At the end of the first period, the patient falls.

Syncope is preceded by a pre-syncope period

The syncope itself is manifested by loss of consciousness, slowing of the heartbeat, thready pulse, low blood pressure. The duration of the fainting spell is 30 seconds. A cardiogenic attack lasts from 1.5 to 5 minutes. Cardiac syncope may be accompanied by edema, clonic convulsions, cyanosis of the skin. Sometimes you can find signs of arrhythmia, extrasystole, paroxysmal tachycardia. In patients with cardiac pathology, there may be no rhythm for several seconds.

The post-syncope period is characterized by the restoration of consciousness, weakness, vestibular disorders, fear, and thirst are possible. With a sharp rise to a standing position, a repeated attack of syncope may occur.

Patients with heart disease have a high risk of mortality due to sudden cardiac arrest.

Features of clinical manifestations of cardiac syncope:

• The onset of an attack does not appear to be vasovagal (stressful).
• The patient may lose consciousness even at rest.
• Syncope lasts 1.5-5 minutes.
• The attack is preceded by: shortness of breath, cardialgia, palpitations.
• Fainting appears during, after physical activity, swimming.
• Clonic seizures are possible.
• The presence of pathological neurological symptoms after an attack.
• In severe cases, syncope requires resuscitation.
• During the attack, the child is pale, after - there is hyperemia of the skin.
• Blueness in the chest, ear, mucous membranes, nose.

Diagnostic and therapeutic measures

After collecting an anamnesis, the patient is assigned additional methods of examination.

Diagnostic measures include the collection of anamnestic data, patient complaints, examination, and additional research methods. During an attack, the doctor assesses the presence of breathing, heartbeat, skin color, heart rate, auscultation (listening) of the lungs, heart. To clarify the causes of fainting, the patient is examined. The patient is prescribed a clinical analysis of blood, urine, biochemical analysis (creatinine, urea, liver tests).

Additional examination methods:

• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain (reveals volumetric, structural pathologies of the brain);
• computed tomography (CT);
• ultrasound dopplerography of the vessels of the neck, head (USDG) (examines the speed of blood flow to the brain);
• electroencephalography (EEG) (assesses the electrical activity of the brain);
• electrocardiography (ECG) (shows the nature of the heart rhythm);
• EchoCG (ultrasound examination of the heart) (diagnoses organic heart disease);
• Holter ECG monitoring (assesses the nature of the rhythm for a day or more).

Therapeutic measures for syncope

First aid for fainting

The treatment of fainting includes first aid, as well as the elimination of the cause that caused fainting.

For first aid, you need to immediately check the presence of a pulse and breathing. In the absence of vital functions, the patient is shown artificial ventilation of the lungs, as well as an indirect heart massage. The patient needs to bring a cotton swab moistened with ammonia to the nose or sprinkle water on the face. The patient should be laid on his back, raise his legs. If the patient does not regain consciousness, an ambulance should be called.

An ambulance doctor with severe hypotension injects Caffeine sodium benzoate 10% - 0.1 ml for 1 year of life subcutaneously or intravenously; Cordiamin - 0.5–1 ml subcutaneously; Atropine sulfate 0.1% - 0.5-1 ml subcutaneously or intravenously (with slowing of the rhythm, cardiac arrest). During severe tachycardia, an injection of Amiodarone is indicated - 2.5–5 μg per 1 kg of body weight for 10–20 minutes into a vein, diluted with 20–40 ml of a 5% dextrose solution.

Medicines used to provide emergency care for syncope

After providing first aid, the patient is sent to the hospital for additional examination and treatment. Arrhythmias are treated with antiarrhythmic drugs. Abundant menstruation in girls requires hormone therapy. With severe anxiety, VSD shows psychotherapy, taking antipsychotics, sedatives, nootropics. Severe hypotension is corrected with drugs to increase pressure.

Syncope in adolescents is common, requires attention from doctors and parents, as it can hide a serious pathology. If symptoms of fainting are found, the child should be shown to the doctor and examined. If heart disease is detected, the child needs drug therapy, sometimes surgical correction. With timely access to a doctor, fainting conditions are successfully eliminated after adequate treatment.