What to do if a child passes out is:
- Lay the child down and raise his legs at least 40 cm for a few seconds until he regains consciousness;
- Put the child on his side so that he does not choke if he does not recover from fainting and there is a risk of the tongue falling out;
- Unscrew tight clothing so that the child can breathe more easily;
- Keep the child warm by placing blankets or clothes on them;
- Leave the child's mouth uncovered and avoid giving him something to drink.
In most cases, fainting is relatively common and does not mean any serious problem, however, if the child does not regain consciousness after 3 minutes, it is important to call an ambulance to be evaluated by health professionals.
What to do after fainting
When the child regains consciousness and wakes up, it is very important to calm him and raise him slowly, starting by sitting first and, only after a few minutes, getting up.
It is possible that during this process the child feels more tired and without energy, so it is possible to put a little sugar under the tongue so that it will melt and be swallowed, increasing the available energy and facilitating recovery.
During the next 12 hours it is also important to be aware of changes in behavior and even possible new fainting spells. If this happens, you should go to the hospital to try to identify the cause and start the most appropriate treatment.
Possible causes for fainting
The most common is that the child passes out due to a drop in blood pressure, which makes it harder for the blood to reach the brain. This pressure drop can happen when the child does not drink enough water, has been playing for a long time in the sun, is in a closed environment or has got up very quickly after sitting for a long time.
In addition, fainting can also happen due to a marked decrease in blood sugar levels, especially if the child has been without food for a long time.
The most serious cases, such as the presence of changes in the brain or other serious diseases are much rarer, but they should be evaluated by a pediatrician or neurologist, if fainting is happening frequently.
When to go to the doctor
Although many fainting situations are not serious and can be treated at home, it is important to go to the hospital if your child:
- Has difficulty speaking, seeing or moving;
- Has any wound or bruise;
- You have chest pain and an irregular heartbeat;
- You have an episode of seizures.
In addition, if the child was very active and passed out suddenly, it is also important to make an assessment at the neurologist, for example, to identify whether there is any change in the brain.
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