Coronavirus Update:What patients and families need to know
Dizziness
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About Dizziness
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What are the symptoms of dizziness in children?
- Feeling dizzy or light-headed
- Feeling unsteady with slight loss of balance
- Feeling "woozy" or not thinking clearly
- May also have brief blurring of vision
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What are the levels of dizziness in children?
- Mild: walks normal
- Moderate: interferes with normal activities such as playing, school or sports
- Severe: can't stand, needs support to walk, feels like passing out now
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If my child has symptoms of dizziness, when should I call 911?
Select the First Symptom that Applies
Call 911 now if:
- You think your child has a life-threatening emergency
Go to the emergency room if:
- Your child is experiencing severe dizziness (unable to walk, requires support to walk)
- Dizziness follows bleeding (Exception: small amount and dizzy from sight of blood)
- Your child passed out (fainted) and it was not caused by prolonged standing
- Your child acts or talks confused
- Poisoning is suspected (usually 8 months to 4 years old)
- Drug abuse is suspected (especially if there are psychological problems and your child is over 8 years of age)
- Your child has a severe headache
- Your child complains of heart pounding differently
- Your child is too weak to stand and it was not caused by prolonged standing
Call your child's doctor now or go to the emergency room if:
- Dehydration is suspected. (No urine in over eight hours, dark urine, very dry mouth and no tears)
- Dizziness was caused by heat exposure, prolonged standing or poor fluid intake. It's not gone after two hours of rest and fluids
- Your child looks or acts very sick
- You think your child needs to be seen and the problem is urgent
Call your child's doctor within 24 hours if:
- Your child passed out (fainted) and caused by sudden or prolonged standing
- Your child is experiencing moderate dizziness (interferes with normal activities) present now. (Exception: Dizziness caused by heat exposure, prolonged standing or poor fluid intake)
- Your child's fever is present for more than three days (72 hours)
- Your child is experiencing ear pain or congestion
- You think your child needs to be seen but the problem is not urgent
Call your child's doctor during office hours if:
- Your child is experiencing mild dizziness (walking normally) present more than three days
- Dizziness is a frequent problem
- You have other questions or concerns
Provide self care at home if:
- Sudden or prolonged standing caused the dizziness
- Poor fluid intake caused the dizziness
- Your child is experiencing mild dizziness from unknown cause present less than three days
Care Advice
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What if my child has dizziness from sudden or prolonged standing?
What You Should Know
- Standing up quickly is the most common cause of dizziness. This type of dizziness only lasts a short time. Getting out of bed is when it usually happens.
- Prolonged standing in one place is another common cause.
- Not drinking enough fluids or eating enough salt always makes it worse.
Here is some care advice that should help:
Standing - Pump Legs
- In the mornings, sit up for a few minutes before you stand up.
- This will help your blood flow stay steady and adjust before you stand up.
- With prolonged standing, contract and relax your leg muscles. Reason: This helps pump the blood back to the heart.
- Sit down or lie down if you feel dizzy.
Salt - Increase Intake
- Most people with this type of dizziness (due to standing) don't get enough salt.
- Try to eat some salty foods (potato chips or pretzels) every day.
Fluids - Drink More
- Drink several glasses of fruit juice, other clear fluids or water.
- This will improve your child's fluid status and blood sugar.
- If the weather is hot, make sure the fluids are cold.
Lie Down
- Lie down with feet up for one hour.
- Reason: This will increase blood flow to the brain.
Prevention
- Extra water and salty foods during sports or hot weather
- Regular mealtimes and snacks
- Enough sleep and rest
What to Expect
- With treatment, the dizziness usually goes away in one to two hours.
Call Your Doctor If
- After two hours of rest and fluids, still feels dizzy
- Your child passes out (faints)
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
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What if my child has dizziness from poor fluid intake?
What You Should Know:
- Not drinking enough fluids and being a little dehydrated probably caused the dizziness.
- It should go away with drinking fluids and resting in a cool place.
- This is always made worse during hot weather. Too much sun exposure can also increase the body's need for fluid.
Here is some care advice that should help.
Fluids - Drink More
- Drink several glasses of fruit juice, other clear fluids or water.
- This will improve your child's fluid status and blood sugar.
- If the weather is hot, make sure the fluids are cold.
Cool Off
- If the weather is hot, use a cold pack or washcloth to the forehead.
- Taking a cool shower or bath will help even more.
Lie Down
- Lie down with feet up for one hour.
- Reason: This will increase blood flow to the brain.
Prevention
- Extra water and salty foods during sports or hot weather
- Regular mealtimes and snacks
- Enough sleep and rest
What to Expect
- With treatment, the dizziness usually goes away in one to two hours.
Call Your Doctor If
- After two hours of rest and fluids, still feels dizzy
- Your child passes out (faints)
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
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What if my child has dizziness from an unknown cause?
What You Should Know
- Dizziness that goes away is a harmless symptom.
- It's usually due to not drinking enough water during sports or hot weather.
- It can also be caused by skipping a meal or too much sun.
- Sometimes, it's part of a viral illness.
Here is some care advice that should help:
Lie Down
- Lie down with feet up for one hour.
- Reason: This will increase blood flow to the brain.
Fluids - Drink More
- Drink several glasses of fruit juice, other clear fluids or water.
- This will improve your child's fluid status and blood sugar.
- If the weather is hot, make sure the fluids are cold.
Cool Off
- If the weather is hot, use a cold pack or washcloth to the forehead.
- Taking a cool shower or bath will help even more.
Prevention
- Extra water and salty foods during sports or hot weather
- Regular mealtimes and snacks
- Enough sleep and rest
What to Expect
- With treatment, the dizziness usually goes away in one to two hours.
- Mild dizziness with a viral illness may last one or two days.
Call Your Doctor If
- After two hours of rest and fluids, still feeling dizzy
- Mild dizziness lasts over three days
- Your child passes out (faints)
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.