Syncope (Fainting)
Syncope, or fainting, can be quite common in children. There are different causes of syncope, and the type your child has will help determine how their provider will manage the condition. The team of pediatric heart specialists at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s have expertise in diagnosing and treating cardiac-related syncope in babies and children.
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What is Syncope?
Syncope, or fainting, is a temporary loss of consciousness that happens when not enough blood goes to the brain. There can be many different causes for fainting, including things like dehydration and low blood sugar, or conditions such as epilepsy or inner ear problems. The most common cause of sycope in children is related to immaturity of the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary processes of the body such as breathing, heart rate and blood pressure.
In the majority of cases, syncope is not caused by any underlying heart condition. However, certain heart issues can make a child more prone to fainting. These include:
- Abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias
- Reduced pump function of the heart related to inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis)
- Heart conditions that restrict blood flow to the body
Vasovagal syncope or neurocardiogenic syncope is the most common cause of fainting in childhood. This type of syncope is usually a response to a trigger such as stress or pain. This causes a sudden drop in blood pressure and heart rate, which leads to fainting. Common symptoms of vasovagal syncope include:
- Dizziness of light-headedness
- Feeling of warmth or sweating
- Nausea
- Racing heartbeat
- Tingling in fingers
- Paleness
- Changes in vision
- Ringing in the ears
What to Do if Your Child Faints?
If your child faints, it is a good idea to have them checked out by their primary care physician. In some cases, your child’s doctor may refer them to a pediatric cardiologist to rule out possible heart-related syncope.
The pediatric cardiologist will examine your child and take a medical history. They may want to run tests such as:
Echocardiogram (echo)
Uses sound waves to provide images of the heart and its valves
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Measures heart’s electrical activity to screen for abnormal rhythms
Exercise stress test
Examines heart activity while the child is exercising
Implantable loop recorder
Also called a cardiac event recorder, this device is implanted under the skin of the chest and records the heartbeat continuously for up to three years
Tilt table study
This test evaluates patients with unexplained fainting. The patient lies flat on a table while their heart rate and blood pressure is monitored. The table will then be tilted at an angle to observe any changes.
Treating Syncope in Children
Luckily, vasovagal syncope in children is common and not life-threatening. It can often be treated without medication by:
- Increasing hydration (avoiding drinks with high sugar content)
- Increasing salt intake
- Avoiding caffeine
- Sitting/lying down and resting
- Stand up/sit down slowly
In some cases, certain medications may be prescribed for children with syncope. Occasionally, procedures such as cardioneuroablation may be used to help control syncope. This procedure uses a catheter ablation technique to rebalance the cardiac autonomic nervous system.
Follow-Up Care
In most cases, children with syncope will eventually outgrow their symptoms and will not need any long-term follow-up with a pediatric heart specialist. You can work with your child’s provider on strategies to help prevent and manage syncope symptoms. If fainting is the result of a heart condition, the UH Rainbow pediatric heart team can treat the underlying condition in order to control and minimize fainting episodes.