What can cause fainting and seizures?

Conditions that can lead to fainting include:

  • Seizure disorders (including epilepsy)
  • Electrolyte abnormalities in the heart or brain.
  • Dehydration.
  • Low or high potassium or magnesium levels.
  • Other heart issues, including: Heart rate that is too fast or too slow. Ventricular tachycardia. Ventricular fibrillation.

Is it normal to have a seizure when you faint?

When someone has muscle jerks, or what seems to be a seizure immediately following a faint, it is often called convulsive syncope. While convulsive syncope can be difficult to differentiate from a seizure, it is usually very easy to treat. It may happen again with future faints, but it is not linked with epilepsy.

What causes unexplained seizures in children?

What Causes Seizures? The most common type of seizure in children is from a fever (called a febrile seizure). Other causes include infections, low blood sodium, medicines, drug use (amphetamines or cocaine), brain injury or a tumor, and genetic changes. Sometimes, a seizure’s cause is never found.

Can a fainting episode look like a seizure?

Vasovagal syncope is characterized by simple fainting spells. However, these fainting spells can be accompanied by confusion, jerking movements and loss of consciousness much like an epileptic seizure. At times, patients’ pupils may dilate and be noticed by others prior to fainting.

Is a child fainting serious?

In most children, it’s usually harmless. But in a few children, syncope is serious. Fainting may be due to a heart problem, or sometimes a neurological problem.

How can you tell the difference between a seizure and a syncope?

Differentiating syncope from seizures can be difficult at times. This study concludes that fewer than 10 jerks suggests syncope, while more than 20 suggests a convulsive seizure: the 10/20 rule. Loss of tone favors syncope.

At what age does epilepsy usually start?

Seizures are bursts of electrical activity in the brain that temporarily affect how it works. They can cause a wide range of symptoms. Epilepsy can start at any age, but usually starts either in childhood or in people over 60. It’s often lifelong, but can sometimes get slowly better over time.

What are the signs of epilepsy in a child?

General symptoms or warning signs of a seizure can include:

  • Staring.
  • Jerking movements of the arms and legs.
  • Stiffening of the body.
  • Loss of consciousness.
  • Breathing problems or stopping breathing.
  • Loss of bowel or bladder control.
  • Falling suddenly for no apparent reason, especially when associated with loss of consciousness.

Why would a 7 year old faint?

Dehydration is the most common cause of fainting in children. When the body doesn’t get enough fluid intake, the blood pressure can drop, which can cause inadequate blood flow to the brain. In many cases, as a first step, pediatricians will recommend that children who have fainted simply drink more.

When should I be concerned about my child fainting?

Patients should be evaluated immediately and referred to a cardiologist if they experience: Fainting without an obvious trigger or in a non-typical setting. Fainting without any warning signs or symptoms. Fainting associated with exercise or stress, particularly occurring during exertion.

What do you do when a child passes out?

If your child faints, check to see if she hit her head and is breathing OK. If your child isn’t breathing normally or doesn’t seem quite right, take her immediately to the emergency room or call 911—especially if the fainting happened while your child was exercising or participating in sports.