Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

I think my toddler fainted!

46 replies

angrypixie · 22/06/2009 19:55

My 16 month old little boy fainted today, I'm sure of it. I was there, as was our nanny. He had his back to us (standing) and was abnormally still, we called him and had no response. As I was walking towards him he crumpled falling heavily and hitting his head on the wooden floor. Thankfully he cried within a couple of seconds of hitting his head.

He was v pale and v clammy. For about half an hour he was v cuddly and still and pale (no temperature) after which he seemed to revive. He then played happily with his brother & sister, had a long splashy bath, a large cup of milk and went to bed at the usual time. (About 2 hours after the 'faint')

Any ideas/experiences? Should I have taken him straight to Dr?

Please

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 22/06/2009 19:57

I'd have taken him to A&E, there could be an underlying cause to this so he needs checking over by a doctor.

Original poster

angrypixie · 22/06/2009 19:59

Oh no, I thought someone would say that. Well, I guess my plan is to check in on him every half hour tonight, until I go to bed and then emergency appointment with Dr tomorrow?

Thanks for quick response fluffy.

OP posts:

LadyOfWaffle · 22/06/2009 20:02

HOnestly A & E.

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 22/06/2009 20:04

If you thought someone would say that then why did you ask?

If it were my child I'd take him to A&E and get him seen by a paediatrician.

totalmisfit · 22/06/2009 20:08

just take him tonight. you won't get any sleep tonight anyway if you're anything like me, having to check on him constantly. better to be safe than sorry as i've not heard of fainting in a child that young before, personally and it could be sign of something worse.

MIAonline · 22/06/2009 20:12

If you want a half way house of nothing or A&E, i would phone the Out of hours GP and get him seen. I would not leave it over night at all. Fainting in a toddler is very unusual and needs checking out ASAP.

NorthernLurker · 22/06/2009 20:12

Take him to A&E now. It's not normal for toddlers to faint and tbh that sounds more like a blackout or seizure to me. It appears he wasn't conscious when he hit the floor and you are frankly out of your mind if you don't get this checked out asap!

psychomum5 · 22/06/2009 20:13

he needs checking, so A&E is the place to head for.

good luck....hope he is ok.

DarrellRivers · 22/06/2009 20:15

I agree
It doesn't sound right
If he was an adult with a known disease such as epilepsy, then fine to leave overnight
BUT he is a toddler and this sounds like a seizure
I'd get him checked tonight

morningpaper · 22/06/2009 20:20

it does sound more like a seizure

I would treat as such i.e. kick up a merry fuss at the hospital pronto

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 22/06/2009 20:25

Sorry, I was harsh. There's been alot of thread on here about children falling down a flight of stairs etc and the parent doing nothing.

I would take him to A&E. It's possible that it was a siezure, it could also be a cardiac problem so it really does need checking. I know you must be worried, it's important to get this checked as soon as you can though. I really do hope he's OK.

lou031205 · 22/06/2009 20:29

It does sound more like a seizure than a faint, tbh.

smallorange · 22/06/2009 20:40

My DD2 has anoxic seizures and it sounds very similar to what happened to your DS. They are in response to a shock, something minor like a finger caught in a drawer or feeling a bit unwell. If it is this, they are very common and harmless, so try not to worry.

He should be checked out though, just to rule out something more serious.

My DD2 had several seizures over a few months and saw a consultant neurologist to be sure of diagnosis.

The first time it happened, I took her A&E (called ambulance!) as it was pretty dramatic.

Obviously you should use your judgement about what you think you should do.

Original poster

angrypixie · 22/06/2009 21:16

Thanks everyone, will update later.
Thought you were harsh fluffybunny, I asked because I genuinely wanted advice. Thought it might be a bit pfb (even though he isn't) to rush to casualty.

OP posts:

LadyOfWaffle · 22/06/2009 21:18

Good luck x

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 22/06/2009 21:24

I'm sorry angrypixie. It's been a long, shite day. I'm not making excuses, I'm not always like this. I really am sorry. I do hope he's OK.

Original poster

angrypixie · 22/06/2009 21:27

Thanks Fluffy Bunny appreciate it.
Have been checking him every half hour he's asleep, nice and cool not clammy, even breathing but waiting for out of hours GP to call me back.

Thanks everyone, will keep you posted.

OP posts:

Wallace · 22/06/2009 21:58

Good luck xx

giraffesCantRunA10k · 22/06/2009 22:00

Deffinetly get it checked asap

MIAonline · 23/06/2009 06:46

How is he angrypixie?

tjacksonpfc · 23/06/2009 16:33

bumping for news how is everything pixie?

Original poster

angrypixie · 23/06/2009 21:31

Thanks for all your support & advice last night.

Spoke to out of hours GP who didn't see anything to gain from waking him but asked me to get him to the GP for first appointment today.

GP phoned hospital who wanted to see him and I took him down there this morning. Have just got home

Tested for diabetes - negative but the ECG showed a heart beat abnormality. Am being referred on to another hospital and am awaiting results of last lot of bloods. You were all right to pursue it, thanks again.

OP posts:

Wallace · 23/06/2009 21:37

Gosh, angrypixie, so glad you got him looked at.

Let us know how you get on, and there will always be someone here who has been through something similar for advice and suppoort

MIAonline · 23/06/2009 21:38

Must have been a stressful night and day for you angrypixie.

Glad you updated, was thinking about your DS today.

Hope you get the results quickly and don't have to wait too long.

Good luck.

FairLadyRantALot · 23/06/2009 21:47

was your little one upset before hand...if so, it might have been a reflex anoxic seizure (which isn't epilepsy), or something like Blue/white breatholding...which is absolutely freakily scary, but luckiluy harmless....

however, you mention the heartbeat is abnormal...so, reflex anoxic seizure is more liekly than blue/white breatholding...

my ys used to do a mixture of blue/white breatholding, and it was scary....he would cry (not even hard necessarily) and than would just go a deadly colouring and sink to the floor as he lost consciousness , before awakening possibly seconds later (always felt longer) and would be clammy/sweaty and very cuddly and very tired...at one point he did this like 4 times in an hour, when I decided to ignore my HV's opinion and took him to A&E where he did it aswell...but nothing more serious was found (which was lucky of course)....

Flip

1 2