Cleveland Clinic doctor talking with teen boy in examination room.

Fainting in Children

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Fainting can happen suddenly. One second, your child is feeling dizzy. The next, they’re out cold on the floor. And it feels like forever until they come to.

Seeing your child pass out can be alarming. But fainting (or even what providers call near fainting) is more common than you think — especially for teenagers. A temporary drop in blood pressure or heart rate can decrease the blood and oxygen levels in their brain. And this can trigger fainting (syncope). Stress, dehydration, not eating right or standing too long can all cause this to happen. But in rare cases, fainting can be a sign of an underlying heart condition or other health problems.

Cleveland Clinic Children’s compassionate healthcare providers are here to help. Our pediatric team will take time to get to know your child and find out why they keep fainting. We know it can be stressful when your child isn’t feeling well. That’s why we’ll listen to your concerns and explain what to expect every step of the way.

Why Choose Us to Treat Your Child’s Fainting?

Caring approach:

You’re the most important member of your child’s care team. That’s why Cleveland Clinic Children’s providers keep you in the loop about your child’s treatment and progress. We’ll make sure you get all the important information and support you and your child need. And we’re here to answer any questions along the way.

Personalized care:

We make sure your child has a care plan that’s carefully tailored to their needs. We want them to have the best results — and to understand what we’re doing throughout testing and treatment. And, if needed, we’ll connect them with one of our child life specialists to guide them through each part of their care.

Collaborative care:

We build a collaborative team of providers who specialize in helping children who faint or almost faint. This means your child may have pediatric experts from many specialties working together to give them the most personalized treatment for the best results. Meet our team.

Innovation and research:

Research and testing drive treatments and better results. That’s why Cleveland Clinic Children’s providers lead all kinds of clinical trials. When your child comes here for care, they may get to try new therapies before they’re widely available. Ask your child’s care team for more information about our current studies.

Virtual visits:

Life with kids can be busy. And it can be tough to find time to take your child to an in-person medical appointment. Why not try a virtual visit for follow-up appointments and quick check-ins with your child’s provider? You’ll still get the same great care without leaving home.

National recognition:

Cleveland Clinic Children’s is a trusted healthcare leader. We’re recognized throughout the U.S. for our expertise and care.

Diagnosing Fainting in Children

Many things can cause a fleeting drop in the blood supply to your child’s brain — which is what causes fainting. Many of these causes can be fixed without medical care. We’re here to figure out the source of the symptoms — and to find the safest and most effective treatment.

But if your child faints for no reason or with exercise, heart problems may be at fault. Or maybe it’s not syncope but something neurological, like epilepsy. And that’s why it’s important to see a healthcare provider to learn more about what’s going on.

What to expect at your child’s first visit

Your child’s first visit will focus on getting to know their provider and starting to find out why your child keeps fainting. Don’t be surprised if their provider asks a lot of questions about their fainting. Details like when it happens and how long it’s been going on play a big part in making a diagnosis. So does your child’s and family’s medical history.

During the appointment, your child will have a physical exam, and their provider may order some tests. These tests can help our team pinpoint whether your child’s syncope is related to a heart condition. We also may want to rule out problems with their inner ear or brain activity. We may also learn that your child’s regular fainting is from a more common cause and something they’ll likely outgrow. They may have tests like:

Meet Our Team for Treating Fainting in Children

Our team-based approach to care means your child will see pediatric providers from different specialties based on their needs. Their care team could have:

Pediatric cardiologists
Pediatric electrophysiologists
Pediatric neurologists
Pediatric otolaryngologists
Child life specialists
Child and adolescent mental health specialists
Pediatric physiologists
Pediatric nutritionists

These and other skilled providers work together to make sure your child gets personalized care and support throughout their treatment journey.

Providers Who Treat Fainting in Children

Locations

Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations throughout Northeast Ohio.

Treating Fainting in Children

How we treat your child’s fainting depends on the results of their tests and what’s causing it.

Medications

The goal of treating children with fainting or near fainting is to eliminate their symptoms and only use medications when needed. Sometimes, medications your child is already taking are to blame for the fainting, so we may recommend changing the dosage. We’ll also work with the provider who prescribed the medication.

Heart procedures

If your child was born with a heart condition or their heart has structural problems, we may need to do surgery or other procedures. If there are electrical problems like an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), we’ll also treat that.

Lifestyle changes

We may recommend your child eat smaller meals more often to balance their blood sugar. They’ll also want to avoid dehydration by drinking more fluids. Electrolytes are important in keeping blood pressure from dropping and staying hydrated. So, we may have you increase their salt and potassium intake. Other lifestyle changes may include improving exercise/activity and learning ways to minimize stress.

Taking the Next Step

Watching your child faint may shake you up a little, too. But most fainting in children isn’t serious. You’ll still want your child checked out by a healthcare provider as soon as possible. While many kids grow out of syncope, there’s always a chance an underlying heart condition is to blame. Our team of pediatric cardiology providers is here to discover why your child faints. And find the best way to put your child’s syncope to rest.