Syncope
Disease Information
Tests
Should my child be seen by a doctor after fainting?
Some types of syncope are caused by a serious problem, so we recommend that your child be seen by a doctor to determine the cause of all fainting spells.
During your appointment, your child's doctor will obtain a medical history and perform a physical examination. The details about the syncopal episodes are helpful in pinpointing the cause:
- how often they occur
- what activity your child was doing before fainting
- if he had any presyncopal sensations
Blood pressure may be taken in sitting and standing positions to check for orthostatic hypotension.
Other diagnostic tests may include:
- blood tests (to evaluate causes such as low blood sugar and dehydration)
- electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
- tilt table test
- echocardiogram (echo)
