Question
What could be the cause of a child suddenly fainting? If I haven’t taken my child to see a doctor today, what precautions should I take to provide assistance?
Answer
When a child suddenly faints and is unaware of what happened, it may be due to a minor epilepsy attack. This condition is relatively common in children, characterized by short duration and no pain. Generally, it does not seem to be caused by low blood sugar or low blood pressure. It is recommended that parents still take their child to the hospital for a Brain Electroencephalogram examination to determine the cause. When dealing with a child who has suddenly fainted, follow these guidelines:
- Minimize movement and disturbance to the child, keeping them calm.
- Loosen the child’s clothing and have them lie flat. For children with severe shock, lower the head position and slightly elevate the feet. However, if there is a head injury, difficulty breathing, or pulmonary edema, this method should not be used; instead, slightly elevate the head.
- Pay attention to maintaining the child’s body temperature but avoid overheating.
- You can offer the child warm drinks such as ginger syrup or strong tea.