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What is it?
Dizziness is a sensation of feeling unsteady on your feet or the world moving or spinning around you. Some children use dizzy to describe feeling faint, a little woozy or just strange.
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What causes it?
There are a variety of causes for dizziness. One of the most common in children is a viral infection of the inner ear (labyrinthitis) that disturbs the body's balance mechanisms.
Low blood sugar (for example, if a meal is missed) can make a child feel dizzy, as can a hot and stuffy crowded environment, stress and anxiety.
More serious causes include anaemia, infection and epilepsy, particularly a type of epilepsy called petit mal or absences, where the child feels strangely disoriented or unaware of their surroundings and they may describe as dizziness.
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Who's affected?
Dizziness is very common - most people experience it occasionally.
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What are the symptoms?
The child may complain they feel faint, the room is spinning or they feel wobbly or unsteady. They may also feel nauseous or actually be sick.
They may become pale, sweaty or shaky and fall to the floor unconscious in a faint, which should last no more than a couple of minutes.
There may be symptoms of an infection - such as a fever, headache, sore throat, anaemia, tiredness and paleness.
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What's the treatment?
In most cases, dizziness isn't a sign of major illness and may resolve if the child is given food and allowed to sit down in the fresh air, or in a room with an open window.
If the child has a viral infection, they can be given paracetamol or ibuprofen to bring down the fever and should be encouraged to lie down and rest.
If you suspect absences, your doctor will be able to help you establish the diagnosis, although specific treatment, other than reassurance, is rarely needed.
If dizziness persists without an obvious cause, get medical advice.
If the child loses consciousness and doesn't come round within a couple of minutes, if their breathing seems slow or irregular, or if dizziness leads to a seizure (with twitching of the limbs or incontinence) get urgent medical help.
Dizziness is a sensation of feeling unsteady on your feet or the world moving or spinning around you. Some children use dizzy to describe feeling faint, a little woozy or just strange.
Top
What causes it?
There are a variety of causes for dizziness. One of the most common in children is a viral infection of the inner ear (labyrinthitis) that disturbs the body's balance mechanisms.
Low blood sugar (for example, if a meal is missed) can make a child feel dizzy, as can a hot and stuffy crowded environment, stress and anxiety.
More serious causes include anaemia, infection and epilepsy, particularly a type of epilepsy called petit mal or absences, where the child feels strangely disoriented or unaware of their surroundings and they may describe as dizziness.
Top
Who's affected?
Dizziness is very common - most people experience it occasionally.
Top
What are the symptoms?
The child may complain they feel faint, the room is spinning or they feel wobbly or unsteady. They may also feel nauseous or actually be sick.
They may become pale, sweaty or shaky and fall to the floor unconscious in a faint, which should last no more than a couple of minutes.
There may be symptoms of an infection - such as a fever, headache, sore throat, anaemia, tiredness and paleness.
Top
What's the treatment?
In most cases, dizziness isn't a sign of major illness and may resolve if the child is given food and allowed to sit down in the fresh air, or in a room with an open window.
If the child has a viral infection, they can be given paracetamol or ibuprofen to bring down the fever and should be encouraged to lie down and rest.
If you suspect absences, your doctor will be able to help you establish the diagnosis, although specific treatment, other than reassurance, is rarely needed.
If dizziness persists without an obvious cause, get medical advice.
If the child loses consciousness and doesn't come round within a couple of minutes, if their breathing seems slow or irregular, or if dizziness leads to a seizure (with twitching of the limbs or incontinence) get urgent medical help.