Simple fainting emergency care in an outpatient setting. Manifestation of efficiency in restoring consciousness

In force various reasons people sometimes lose consciousness. In this case, fainting can be evidence of both general weakness due to exhaustion, and a symptom of serious diseases, for example, a heart attack. It is possible that a person who has lost consciousness is in a state of collapse, shock, or hypoglycemic coma resulting from diabetes mellitus. For this reason, it is extremely important to know what urgent Care when fainting.

Concept and causes of fainting

Fainting should be understood as a short-term loss of consciousness caused by oxygen starvation brain

Indications for hospitalization

To ensure that emergency medical care for fainting is provided to the maximum extent possible, effective level, you need to call in a timely manner " ambulance" In order not to get confused and know for sure when medical help is really important, you need to know the indications for hospitalization in case of fainting. Such indications can be divided into two groups: relative and absolute.

Relative:

  • sudden loss of consciousness that occurs during physical exertion;
  • severe or moderate orthostatic hypotension;
  • constant fainting;
  • possible development of arrhythmia or coronary disease hearts;
  • age exceeding 70 years.

Absolute readings:

  • characteristic of ischemia ECG changes(acute conduction disturbances, severe tachycardia or bradycardia);
  • clinical signs of congestive heart failure, valvular heart disease, developing into cerebral circulatory disorders or stroke.
  • pain in chest.

Emergency care for fainting in children

In the event that a child has lost consciousness, assistance will include standard actions:

  • lay it horizontally without using a pillow;
  • raise your legs a little;
  • open a window or window;
  • unbutton clothes;
  • Spray your face with water;
  • bring cotton wool with ammonia to your nose.

It would not be amiss to pay attention to the pulse, establishing its rhythm. If possible, blood pressure should also be measured. After the child wakes up, you should not pick him up right away - let him lie down until he fully comes to his senses. Afterwards, you can give him sweet coffee or tea, but not earlier than after 5-10 minutes.

If fainting occurs periodically and after physical activity, you should consult a doctor, since such symptoms may indicate heart disease.

Emergency care for fainting resulting from sunstroke is supplemented by the following actions:

  • the child should be placed in the shade, away from direct sunlight;
  • You need to put a cold compress on your head;
  • provide free access to fresh air;
  • the body needs to be wiped cold water;
  • when consciousness has returned, it is important to give cold water to drink;
  • if the condition does not return to normal, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Fainting in diabetes

This disease can lead to such a result as hypoglycemic coma. Outwardly, it may resemble a normal loss of consciousness. This condition occurs due to a sharp decrease in blood sugar levels, which is a consequence of exceeding the dose of insulin and other factors.

Before the onset of hypoglycemic coma, the skin begins to turn pale and moist, and a strong feeling of hunger appears. The main thing in this situation is to make every effort to prevent loss of consciousness. To do this, the person needs to be given something sweet (jam, honey, sugar). But if fainting does occur, then it is necessary to call an ambulance.

Convulsive fainting

This type of fainting may initially occur as usual, but then against the background of low muscle tone a tonic spasm appears. Such manifestations can be triggered by a lack of oxygen that lasts more than 30 seconds.

Emergency care for fainting in this case comes down to standard actions(unfasten clothes, provide air access, bring ammonia to your nose). But if a person does not come to his senses, you need to administer 1 ml of cordiamine or 2 ml of camphor.

What to do in case of collapse and shock

Initially, it is worth defining the terms in question. By collapse we need to understand a sharp vascular insufficiency accompanied by peripheral circulatory disorders. The very mechanism of development of such a state as collapse is associated with important factor- decrease in vascular tone. In this case, a noticeable loss of circulating blood volume occurs. The result is a sharp decrease in pressure, both venous and arterial. In this regard, a redistribution of blood occurs in the body: there is a lot of it in the vessels abdominal cavity, but in the vessels of the brain and important organs its deficiency is recorded.

Shock is a circulatory disorder that was triggered by a sudden factor, such as injury.

Emergency care for fainting (collapse, shock) looks the same as for normal loss of consciousness: the patient is placed in a horizontal position without a pillow, ammonia is used to irritate the nasal mucosa. You can also apply heating pads to your limbs. You definitely need to call a doctor.

Already on the recommendation of a doctor, emergency care for fainting and collapse may include blood transfusions, therapy aimed at stopping bleeding, as well as the administration of analgesics and cardiac glycosides (for myocardial infarction).

Obviously, fainting can sometimes be a consequence of quite dangerous processes that can harm a person’s health and even threaten his life. Therefore, if someone has lost consciousness, first aid for fainting is extremely important as it can save the victim from serious complications and even fatal outcome. And it is important to remember that if all the measures taken do not bring the person to his senses within five minutes, you should without a doubt call an ambulance medical care.

Fainting is the temporary presence of a person without consciousness, which is caused by a number of reasons. However, they are all associated with insufficient oxygen entering the brain cells. The duration of a person being unconscious can vary from a few seconds to 5-10 minutes.

First aid for fainting will help avoid brain hypoxia, which will leave serious consequences for the victim.

Why do they lose consciousness?

Fainting is not a disease. It is a consequence of a provoking factor, pathologies internal organs, chronic diseases.

Emergency care for fainting should be carried out taking these factors into account. After all, if loss of consciousness is caused by serious illness or injury, medical intervention and the use of medications will be required.

We list the main causes of fainting:

  • Long stay in a state of nervous exhaustion, stress;
  • Sharp decline in performance blood pressure;
  • Constant malnutrition, severe hunger;
  • Heat stroke;
  • Excessively long stay in a stuffy, unventilated room;
  • Pregnancy;
  • Increased physical activity;
  • In people with meteosensitivity sharp changes pressure in the atmosphere.

If a person faints, and the above factors are not observed, then the loss of consciousness is provoked by pathological processes in the body:

  • Abundant;
  • Pathologies of the heart and blood vessels;
  • Traumatic brain injury;
  • Chronic diseases that are in the acute stage.

If these reasons provoked fainting, then after first aid for fainting, it is important to immediately call medical personnel.

Pay attention!

An ambulance should be called immediately if the person does not regain consciousness for more than two minutes.


Specifics of symptoms

The victim himself can prevent loss of consciousness if he can recognize in time the symptoms that always appear before this condition.

Before fainting, the victim feels:

  • Dizziness;
  • The ears begin to make noise;
  • Feeling of complete loss of strength;
  • Sensitivity in hands and feet disappears;
  • Nausea occurs.

Pay attention!

In cases of fainting, convulsive spasms or movement may occur. eyeballs.

If you feel this kind of discomfort, you need to take a horizontal position as quickly as possible, raising your legs up.

First aid for fainting begins to be provided if a person lying down exhibits the following symptoms:

  • The skin becomes very pale;
  • Breathing is barely audible, it is shallow;
  • Cold sweat appears on the skin;
  • The pulse is very weak when palpated;

If a person faints, he retains all vital functions: he can breathe, reacts to light, and has a heartbeat. However, if the provision of first aid is untimely and the person for a long time remains unconscious, these functions will be impaired.

The algorithm of actions in this situation necessarily includes examination of the victim and an assessment of his general condition.

  1. Examine the person and determine if there are injuries to the body or head.
  2. Count your pulse;
  3. Measure your blood pressure;
  4. Record the time when loss of consciousness occurred to assess total duration fainting.

Providing first aid upon arrival of specialists will be based on this information, as well as visual observations of the patient.

So, if fainting is caused by heart pathologies, an almost immediate loss of consciousness occurs.

If the condition is provoked by disturbances in the peripheral vascular system, the person faints for only 5-10 seconds.

With brain injuries, loss of consciousness is accompanied by speech and vision impairment.

First aid rules

To help the patient come to his senses, you need to follow the following algorithm for providing emergency care for fainting:

  • Raise the victim's legs so that they are above his head;
  • Check for vital signs: breathing and pulse;
  • If you are afraid that vomiting will begin, turn the patient on his side and open his mouth slightly;
  • If convulsive movements occur, place any hard object between the patient’s teeth;
  • Loosen or remove tight clothing.

Emergency care for fainting necessarily involves actions to irritate skin receptors. In conditions associated with loss of consciousness, such actions activate the respiratory centers and also help increase blood flow.

For these purposes, the victim’s face is sprayed with cold water or wiped with a damp cloth. You can use ammonia. A small portion of alcohol is applied to a cotton swab and wiped over the patient’s temples. You can bring the cotton wool to the patient’s nose, but not closer than 15 cm.

  • When providing first aid for fainting, the following actions should not be performed:
  1. Seating the patient;
  2. Make any sudden movements;
  3. Change the location of the patient, especially if fainting is caused by;
  4. Offer any medications when the man came to his senses.
  • Pay attention!

The last action is fraught with great danger, since the person providing assistance does not know the cause of fainting! Therefore, in this case there is a high risk of harming the patient. So, nitroglycerin, which does an excellent job with pathological conditions heart (read all about first aid for stroke), sharply reduces blood pressure. Therefore, it is extremely undesirable to use it in case of loss of consciousness.

Loss of consciousness in children

Emergency care for fainting in children includes standard actions.

If the child was indoors, he must be taken out to fresh air or ensure maximum flow into the room where the baby is.

  • Place the baby on a flat horizontal surface;
  • We raise our legs above the level of his head;
  • We release from pressing elements of clothing;
  • Turn your head to the side;
  • We record pulse, blood pressure and respiration indicators;
  • Wipe your face and body with a cloth soaked in cold water;
  • If ammonia is available, wipe the whiskey with a cotton swab dipped in it.

Pay attention!

Fainting in children is not always associated with pathological changes in the body. However, after the baby comes to his senses, he should be shown to doctors to exclude the possibility of developing serious illnesses. If fainting lasts more than 2 minutes, the child must be hospitalized.

After the baby has regained consciousness, he should not be suddenly seated: he needs time to fully recover from fainting. When you are confident that the baby has recovered from fainting, you need to offer him a drink sweet tea and ensure complete rest for several hours.

Heatstroke

In the hot season, people often suffer from heatstroke, which occurs due to overheating of the body or long-term exposure direct sunlight.

First aid for fainting caused by heat stroke is carried out immediately after the appearance of characteristic symptoms. Read all about heat and sunstroke.

First of all, everything must be done to protect the patient from further exposure to heat.

  • Take the person to a shady place or room;
  • Remove or loosen the pressing elements of his clothing;
  • Wipe or spray your face and body with water;
  • Apply an ice pack or any cold object to the forehead, where the large arteries and in the area of ​​the heart;
  • Use ammonia.

If assistance is provided to children, be sure to call medical workers after completing the necessary actions.

Diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus - serious illness, the most dire consequence of which can be hypoglycemic coma. This state of affairs external signs similar to fainting. Its occurrence is associated with a number of factors: a sharp decrease in blood sugar levels, an excessive dosage of insulin, etc.

A person feels the same symptoms as before a normal fainting spell, but these symptoms are accompanied by severe hunger.

IN in this case It is very important to prevent the onset of fainting, which will turn into a coma. You need to let the patient eat any sweet product, preferably of natural origin: honey, sugar or even jam.

If fainting does occur, only the first nurse can help the patient. help, since to get out of this state you will need the introduction medications.

How to avoid fainting

In some cases, loss of consciousness can be prevented if you know what to do in such a situation.

If characteristic symptoms occur, you need to do the following:

  • Lie down as quickly as possible or take the most comfortable position;
  • If you are outside and it is not possible to lie down, lean your back on a hard surface and squeeze your gluteal and buttock muscles as much as possible. calf muscles(in this way you can restore the blood flow that rushes to the head);
  • Try to breathe as deeply and often as possible, strongly protruding your stomach as you exhale;
  • Massage ears, regulating the force of influence on them depending on the condition;
  • There is a hollow between the nose and mouth, which you need to press hard and then release with a sharp movement.

Fainting (syncope) is a spontaneous, or sudden, conditionally momentary loss consciousness.

The variety of diseases that lead to fainting is quite wide. They range from the most common, with a favorable prognosis, to the extremely severe, possibly even life-threatening.

First, “emergency” aid for fainting.

Due to the fact that the muscles of the tongue are relaxed in a person who is unconscious, the tongue can block the patency respiratory tract. Based on this, the recommended first aid for a person before the arrival of an ambulance is: transfer the unconscious person to a horizontal position, fix the tongue, raise the legs above the head to supply the brain with a large volume of blood, open the windows, you can hit the cheeks, use ammonia and sniff it at a distance of 2 cm from the nose and rub the temples.

Etiology. Causes of fainting.

Loss of vascular tone:

Vasovagal syncope

Orthostatic syncope

Decreasevenousreturn:

Increased intrathoracic pressure (eg, with urination, coughing)

Late pregnancy.

Decrease in circulating blood volumeBCC:

Hypovolemia (for example, with excessive use of diuretics, fluid loss due to vomiting, diarrhea, increased sweating.)

Internal bleeding (for example, from aortic dissection).

Heart rhythm disturbances:

Tachycardia;

Bradycardia;

Hypersensitivity of the carotid sinus.

Decreased heart function:

Aortic stenosis or pulmonary artery;

Acute heart failure (for example, myocardial infarction).

Cerebrovascularviolations:

Transient ischemic attack;

Ischemic, hemorrhagic stroke;

Ischemia in the vertebrobasilar region (for example, with subclavian artery steal syndrome);

Subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Other possiblereasons:

Hypoglycemia;

Taking drugs (nitroglycerin, p-blockers, verapamil, diltiazem, many others);

Hyperventilation;

Hyperthermia;

Hysteria.

Unexplained syncope One in five patients with unexplained syncope has an arrhythmia, and one in ten die within a year, usually suddenly.

Pathogenesis. The mechanism of fainting.

Acute, sharp decrease in cerebral (narrowing of cerebral, cerebral vessels) or systemic blood flow (arterial hypotension), which can be combined together.

Decreased postural tone with disorders of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

Loss of consciousness developing at the fifth to tenth second with cerebral hypoperfusion.

Activation of vegetative centers that regulate blood circulation.

Restoration of normal or adequate cerebral circulation and consciousness.

Classification of fainting

According to the course and risk of developing life-threatening conditions, fainting is divided into:

Favorable (low risk)

Unfavorable (high risk)

Fainting clinic

The presyncope period is a period of precursors, unstable, fleeting, short-term.

Syncope itself is a lack of consciousness observed over a period of several seconds to four to five minutes.

Post-syncope is a period of restoration of consciousness and orientation of a person lasting several seconds.

There are three periods in the development of fainting:

The most common type of syncope experienced by people is vasovagal syncope. characteristic features which are dizziness, darkening of the eyes, cold sweat, loss of muscle tone, pallor, bradycardia, when the patient slowly sinks to the ground or falls. Fainting occurs at absolutely any age, but more often in at a young age as a response to sudden emotional stress, pain, fear, when moving into vertical position etc. In some cases they are preceded absolutely various symptoms, called lipothymia. It includes following symptoms: weakness, nausea, vomiting, sweating, headache, dizziness, visual impairment, tinnitus, yawning, premonition of an imminent fall. Restoration of consciousness occurs quickly, orientation is restored immediately, but despite this, anxiety persists for some time, especially if fainting occurs for the first time in life, adynamism, lethargy, and a feeling of weakness.

If fainting is caused by organic pathology, other clinical symptoms may be present.

Predictably unfavorable signs:

Chest pain

Differential diagnosis

Occurs during physical activity - aortic stenosis; cardiomyopathy; pulmonary hypertension; pulmonary stenosis; birth defects hearts

When the head is tilted to the side - Hypersensitivity of the carotid sinus

When raising your arms - subclavian artery steal syndrome

During urination - Cervical obstruction bladder; pheochromocytoma

When coughing - lung diseases, more often in smokers, prone to obesity and alcoholism

Orthostatic collapse - Prolonged bed rest; fever and

Dehydration; taking diuretics and nitrates

Chest pain and/or shortness of breath; arterial hypotension- myocardial infarction; TELA; aortic dissection

Difference in blood pressure and pulse filling values ​​- Aortic dissection

Palpitations, “interruptions” in the work of the heart; no nausea and vomiting; wrong rhythm; slow pulse - Arrhythmias

Slow pulse; dissociation between the apical impulse and the carotid pulse; decrease or absence of the second tone, systolic murmur carried out on carotid arteries- Aortic stenosis

History of diabetes mellitus - Hypoglycemia

Attacks at night when lying down; tongue biting; disorientation after a seizure - Epilepsy

Focal, cerebral and meningeal symptoms - Acute disorder cerebral circulation(ONMK)

Sudden intense headache - Subarachnoid hemorrhage; ONMK

TBI - Concussion or contusion of the brain, including subdural or epidural hematoma

Skin rash angioedema- Anaphylactic shock

Stomach ache; arterial hypotension in a horizontal position - Internal bleeding; ectopic

Pregnancy

Help the patient breathe freely - loosen tight clothing.

Carefully bring a small piece of cotton wool or gauze moistened with ammonia solution (ammonia) to the patient’s nostrils 0.5-1 sec.

At long absence consciousness - stable position on the side.

If the patient stops breathing, begin CPR

Find the medications that the patient is taking and prepare them for the arrival of the emergency medical team

Do not leave the patient unattended

DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA
- Determination of the degree of impairment of consciousness
- Onset of the disease
- Skin and mucous membranes
- Breathing pattern, frequency
- Muscle and eye tone
- Availability pathological reflexes
- Bad breath
- Convulsions
- Pulse, blood pressure
- ECG
- Exclude internal bleeding for side signs

With an acute lack of oxygen, an instant reaction of the brain occurs (shock), which causes or simply fainting. The body's natural reaction to this condition is its horizontal position.

A person loses his sense of reality and adequate state. In the supine position, the heart begins to restore blood supply to the brain.

After the oxygen deficiency disappears, the functional state is restored and the person returns to normal life. It is very important that the first first aid when fainting.

Brain collapse

How to provide first aid in case of fainting so that all actions are correct?

As a result of a drop in blood pressure, the body does not have time to respond to the change in blood flow and shuts down, leaving the victim in shock.

Loss of consciousness can last from a few seconds to 10 minutes. If a person’s condition does not recover during this time, then there is a danger to life in the future.

What to do if a person faints? In order to provide necessary help the victim should know a certain procedure, that is, an algorithm for the correct provision of assistance. By following simple first aid rules, you can save a human life.

Algorithmic actions to restore consciousness

So, the algorithm of correct actions:

It is very important that first aid for fainting is provided on time; precious minutes must not be wasted. All actions must be thoughtful, performed confidently and consistently.

Providing first aid for fainting, following the entire algorithm of actions, will help restore normal condition person.

However, there are situations when a person does not regain consciousness and there is no pulsation. What to do if you faint and there is no pulse? This situation occurs very often, so you should know the algorithm for sequential actions in this case.

Manifestation of efficiency in restoring consciousness

How to provide first aid for fainting if there is no pulse:

In cardiac arrest or fibrillation, 10% of victims die every minute if they are not given emergency assistance for fainting. Therefore, you should react to such a condition immediately.

Types and causes of cerebral blood flow disorders

Sudden loss of consciousness can be caused by several possible factors:

  1. Neurogenic syncope - with this condition, there is a violation of the autonomic nervous system, which ensures improper functioning of blood vessels. According to statistics, at least 50% of all cases of fainting.
  2. Cardiogenic condition is heart failure, that is, there is a disturbance in the heart rhythm with further blocking of blood conduction.
  3. Hyperventilation fainting occurs during anxiety conditions, leading to fear and panic. A person’s breathing in this condition is characterized by uncontrolled actions.

What to do after a critical condition?

The crisis has passed, and the person is gradually coming to his senses. At this time, it is recommended to sit him down or try to get him to his feet.

The victim must restore all the adequacy of the surrounding world. To normalize blood flow in the brain, the patient needs to lie down for several minutes.

In the future, you should not resort to sudden movements and physical activity. After the functional state of all organs has been restored, you should consult a doctor.

It is necessary to find out the reasons for such a short-term loss of consciousness. The very fact of fainting should cause anxiety, and it is necessary to know the root cause of this phenomenon.

Such brain collapse may result from the following manifestations:

  • diabetes mellitus;
  • epilepsy;
  • brain tumor.

Complete clinical examination, will help determine the symptomatic nature of brain collapse.

It is important to know that a short-term loss of consciousness never leads to a complete stop. heart rate and stopping breathing. Muscle activity during a fainting state does not stop working, and all reflection is preserved.

A person who has fainted, after restoring the vital functions of the brain, does not lose his sense of the surrounding reality.

Perfectly oriented in space and time. All actions of people around and their first aid when a victim faints must be coordinated and non-stop.

The ability to provide first aid (FAM) must be instilled in a person from school.

How to prevent fainting when you feel unwell?

It happens that suddenly a person experiences certain discomfort: ringing in the ears, cold hands, sudden sweating, blurred vision, dizziness and nausea.

The legs become weak, and the brain refuses to obey. In such cases, the body needs a reboot.

Various symptoms of manifestations require an adequate response:

Anemia

Symptoms A sharp decrease in blood pressure. A feeling of weakness throughout the body, suffocation, heart rhythms lose rhythm, a deep breath does not bring relief, and no nausea is observed.

What to do?

It is urgent to lie down, with your head held high. In this case, it is advisable to drink strong tea or coffee and eat something salty.

Stuffiness

Vessels begin to dilate when there is a lack of oxygen in the air.

Oxygen starvation increases breathing speed and carbon dioxide accumulates in the blood.

Symptoms Darkness before gases and suffocation.

What to do?

Get out urgently stuffy room, unbutton your collar, breathe evenly through your nose, rub your earlobes vigorously.

Fear and anxiety

Very often this phenomenon occurs in very impressionable people. The very sight of blood, medical instruments and white coats of medical workers causes fear and anxiety.

Symptoms There is a loss of reality, suffocation, pressure rises and severe dizziness begins.

What to do?

You need to cheer yourself up: tense your muscles, shake your head, move your arms and legs. The best way To avoid fainting in this state is simply to distract yourself from objects causing fear and anxiety.

Overheating and heatstroke

Heat can lead to loss of consciousness and fainting.

The sun, a bath, warm clothes, a long stay near a heat source, all these factors can become prerequisites for fainting.

Symptoms Increased body temperature, redness on the face, dizziness and pain, difficulty breathing.

What to do?

First of all, it is urgent to move to a cool place and cool the body as soon as possible. Then spend a few minutes in a lying position.

Drop in blood sugar

The condition leading to fainting can be simple hunger or heavy physical exertion.

Symptoms Sudden headache and spasmolytic condition of the stomach caused by hunger.

What to do?

Immediately eat any sweet dish (tea with sugar, chocolate, candy, etc.).

A properly organized working day has great value for the normal functioning of all organs.

There must be a time for work and a time for rest.

Symptoms Swelling on the face, redness in the eyes, feeling of nausea and general weakness of the whole body.

What to do?

Go to bed after drinking 30 ml of cognac or any herbal alcohol tincture. After 8-10 hours of sleep, a person returns to normal and is ready for active life actions.

If you have any manifestations or tendencies to this condition, you should consult a doctor. It is necessary to examine the entire body and identify weak points.

Constantly monitor your blood pressure, monitor timely nutrition and daily routine. Avoid the unsustainable physical activity, once a week it is recommended to do cleansing enemas that will help relieve blood pressure.

Take care of your body and always be healthy!

Do you still think that it is impossible to GET RID of frequent fainting!?

Have you ever encountered a pre-fainting state or syncope that simply “knocks you out of the rut” and the usual rhythm of life!? Judging by the fact that you are now reading this article, then you know firsthand what it is:.

  • an impending attack of nausea rising and growing from the stomach...
  • darkening of the eyes, ringing in the ears...
  • sudden feeling of weakness and fatigue, legs give way...
  • panic fear...
  • cold sweat, loss of consciousness...

Now answer the question: are you satisfied with this? Can ALL THIS be tolerated? How much time have you already wasted on ineffective treatment? After all, sooner or later the SITUATION WILL GET WORSE.

Fainting or syncope is a short-term disturbance in the child's consciousness due to exposure to various reasons leading to a decrease in normal blood supply to the brain. In children, this is a fairly common phenomenon that can develop in the most unpredictable situations. To ensure proper provision of pre-hospital emergency care, it is necessary to remember and follow a number of simple recommendations.

Reasons

In children, the cause of fainting may be the influence of functional and pathological factors that disrupt the normal blood supply and nutrition of brain cells (cells of the nervous system - neurocytes).

Of all the cells and tissues of the human body, neurocytes are the most sensitive to insufficient supply of oxygen and glucose. Therefore, even a slight decrease in blood flow in the brain tissues of a child can lead to sharp deterioration his functional state and the development of fainting.

A decrease in the nutrition of a child’s brain cells is most often caused by a violation of the regulation of the tone of arterial walls by the nervous system, which leads to their expansion and a decrease in the speed and volume of blood flow. A child’s autonomic nervous system is in the process of maturation, so dilation of the arteries of the brain followed by fainting can develop when the child is emotionally overstrained (this often happens at school assemblies, performances of children’s groups, during educational process), local overheating of the head, especially when exposed to direct sunlight (thermal or sunstroke). The likelihood of fainting increases due to insufficient intake of glucose into the blood.

Fainting in children often occurs on the line at school due to insufficient breakfast and excitement.

There are also pathological causes of fainting, in which insufficient blood supply is the result of the development of various diseases:

  • Cardiac dysfunction - bradycardia (decreased heart rate), disturbances in the conduction system, which are accompanied by blockade of impulse transmission to the muscle fibers of the heart (atrioventricular block with the development of Morgagni-Adams-Stokes attacks, weakness syndrome sinus node heart), tachyarrhythmia (increased heart contractions with disruption of their rhythm, which leads to insufficient blood flow in the arterial vessels).
  • Hypoglycemia is a pronounced decrease in blood sugar due to various metabolic disorders in the child's body.
  • Cerebrovascular pathology - various congenital (vascular tumors) or acquired (neuroinfection, disruption of the functional activity of the autonomic nervous system such as vegetative-vascular dystonia) lesions arterial vessels with a violation of the volume and speed of blood flow in them.

Availability pathological reasons is accompanied by the systematic development of fainting in children.

Systematic disturbances of consciousness in a child in the form of fainting require a thorough examination, as they can be a consequence of various pathological processes in the body requiring adequate treatment.

Symptoms of fainting

Fainting in a child is characterized by certain symptoms. Initially, a pre-syncope (pre-fainting) state develops; it includes a number of manifestations:

  • The child feels discomfort, often in the form of tightness in the chest, neck area, or lack of air.
  • Nausea, yawning, sweating (the result of a violation of the functional activity of the autonomic part of the nervous system).
  • Darkening of the eyes, appearance of “floaters” before the eyes, weakness in the legs.
  • Tinnitus (sometimes manifested as ringing), numbness of the skin of the hands and feet.

If assistance is provided to the child at the stage of pre-syncope, fainting usually does not develop, but is limited to a slight stupor of consciousness, yawning, and possible vomiting. Fainting itself is accompanied by a lack of contact between the child and others, he does not answer questions, and does not respond to touch. The tone of skeletal muscles is sharply reduced, the skin of the face is pale, and the level of systemic blood pressure also decreases.

Emergency care for children with the development of fainting consists of following simple general recommendations:

  • The child must be placed on a horizontal surface, on his back, with his legs slightly elevated (this will ensure better blood flow to the brain).
  • Loosen parts of clothing that can put pressure on the body, which prevents normal blood flow (unfasten the top buttons of the collar, sleeves, loosen the belt).
  • Ensure a sufficient flow of oxygen-saturated air (open the window).
  • Perform reflex effects on the body that increase the tone of arterial vessels and help improve blood flow in them - spray your face with cool water, lightly pat your cheeks with a damp towel, let inhale ammonia vapor.

These measures usually help improve blood flow to the brain tissue, which leads to the return of
consciousness and disappearance of symptoms of fainting. After the child has come to his senses, he should be given hot sweet tea to drink. If such measures are ineffective, further assistance is provided by medical worker with inclusion medicines(caffeine sodium benzoate, cordiamine, glucose).

It is important to follow the rules for using ammonia. To do this, bring a cotton swab moistened with ammonia to the child’s nose at a distance of 10-15 cm. Do not let an open bottle of solution be sniffed, as this can lead to a burn to the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.

In most cases, if a child faints after proper emergency care, further drug therapy No. If fainting recurs systematically, it is important to undergo an objective, comprehensive examination.