Fainting (Syncope)
Syncope is the sudden loss of consciousness due to an abrupt decrease in the supply of blood to the brain. The usual cause is a simple faint - or vaso-vagal attack. This is so-called because the blood pools in the veins of the gut, and the heart rate is reduced by the action of the vagus nerve, part of our autonomic nervous system (see the nerve and muscle section). In children, it is most commonly the result of over-heating and lack of oxygen in a stuffy environment. It can also accompany fear or an emotional event. The management is the same as for the adult - raise the legs above the head and loosen tight clothing. Fresh air is a great help. In children and young people with recurrent attacks of syncope, an underlying cause such as irregularity of the heartbeat (see the heart section) or anaemia should be excluded. Rarely, they can be a manifestation of epilepsy.
|
