Dizziness

When To Call

Call 911 Now

• You think your child has a life-threatening emergency

Go to ER Now

• Severe dizziness (can't stand, needs support to walk, feels like passing out now)
• Follows bleeding. Exception: small amount and dizzy from sight of blood.
• Passed out (fainted) and not caused by prolonged standing
• Acts or talks confused
• Poisoning suspected (usually 8 months to 4 years old)
• Drug abuse suspected (especially if mental health problems and more than 8 years of age)
• Severe headache
• Child complains of heart pounding differently
• Too weak to stand and not caused by prolonged standing

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

• Dehydration suspected. No urine in more than 8 hours, dark urine, very dry mouth and no tears.
• Dizziness caused by heat exposure, prolonged standing, or poor fluid intake. It's not gone after 2 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

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

• Passed out (fainted) and caused by sudden or prolonged standing
• Moderate dizziness (interferes with normal activities) present now. Exception: dizziness caused by heat exposure, prolonged standing, or poor fluid intake.
• Fever lasts more than 3 days
• Ear pain or congestion
• You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

• Mild dizziness (normal walking) lasts more than 3 days
• Dizziness is a frequent problem
• You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

• Sudden or prolonged standing caused the dizziness
• Poor fluid intake caused the dizziness
• Mild dizziness from unknown cause present less than 3 days

Care Advice

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 1 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 1 to 2 hours.

Call Your Doctor If:

• After 2 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

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 1 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 1 to 2 hours.

Call Your Doctor If:

• After 2 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

Dizziness from 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 1 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 1 to 2 hours.
• Mild dizziness with a viral illness may last 1 or 2 days.

Call Your Doctor If:

• After 2 hours of rest and fluids, still feeling dizzy
• Mild dizziness lasts over 3 days
• Your child passes out (faints)
• You think your child needs to be seen
• Your child becomes worse

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