Condition

Pediatric Dizziness

What is dizziness?

Dizziness is a sensation of light-headedness or feeling faint.

What are the causes of dizziness in children?

Main Cause. Usually due to reduced blood flow to the brain for a short time. It can be triggered by many normal events:

Standing too long in one place. Reason: This causes pooling of blood in the legs.
Standing up suddenly. Reason: This causes sudden drop in blood pressure.
Dehydration. This can be from losing fluids and/or from not drinking enough fluid.
Low oxygen (such as when running and out of breath). Reason: Lower than normal oxygen levels can't meet body's needs for a short time.
Too much sun or hot tub use. Reason: Increased sweating causes fluid loss.
Sweating from sports or hard work. Reason: Sweating causes fluid loss.
Fasting. Skipping a meal causes low blood sugar.
Fever
Motion sickness. Main symptoms are dizziness and nausea.
Viral Syndrome. Patients with viral illnesses (e.g., colds, flu) often say they are a bit dizzy. This is never the only symptom. It may relate to weakness from being sick.
Vertigo (Serious). In addition to dizziness, the child complains that the room is spinning. They can't walk if they have vertigo. True vertigo is very rare in children. It's usually caused by middle ear disease.

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Frequently Asked Questions

About Dizziness

What are the symptoms of dizziness in children?

What are the levels of dizziness in children?

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

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

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

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.

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Departments that Treat Dizziness

Balance and Vestibular Program

The Balance and Vestibular Program at Children’s National Hospital treats children experiencing dysfunction of the vestibular system such as dizziness, imbalance, delayed motor function development and vertigo.