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Fits, faints and funny turns

There are many reasons for childhood “funny turns”. Your medical practitioner will have given you a likely diagnosis and this leaflet contains links for further information on some of the commonest causes of funny turns in childhood. This leaflet is designed to alert you should your child’s symptoms change and advice as to where to get help. It helps to have a video of your child’s episodes to take to any medical appointments.

Click here to view the fits, faints and funny turns paediatric pathway. 

If your child has for the first time any of the following:

  • If they become unconscious and do not recover after 5 minutes
  • If they have a seizure lasting more than 5 minutes
  • If they have >3 episodes in one day
  • Becomes confused or unaware of their surroundings (for longer than 30 mins)
  • Develops weakness in their arms/ legs or starts losing their balance
  • Develops problems with their eyesight
  • Collapses during exercise/ strenuous activity
  •  If your child remains unconscious place your child on their side until help arrives as seen below (see picture). 

You need urgent help.

Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999

If your child has any of the following at any time:

  • If they have more than one convulsive seizure in a week (Convulsive = unconscious with arms and legs stiff, sometimes shaking)
  • Loss of consciousness but has quick recovery (less than 5 minutes)
  • Change in their behaviour or excessive tiredness
  • Develops a persistent headache that doesn’t go away (despite painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen)
  • Develops a headache that wakes them from sleep
  • If your child has known epilepsy follow personalised care plan and contact named nurse if have concerns

You need to contact a doctor or nurse today.

Please contact NHS 111 - dial 111 or for children aged 5 years and above visit 111.nhs.uk

Your child may be diagnosed with one of the below conditions that requires no medical attention:

Here are links for further information:

Breath holding attacks: www.nhs.uk/conditions/breath-holdingspells-in-chil...

Simple faint: www.nhs.uk/conditions/fainting/

Reflex anoxic seizures: http://www.heartrhythmalliance.org/stars/uk/

Night terrors: www.nhs.uk/conditions/night-terrors/

Sleep myoclonus (Brief jerks of one or more limbs. Occurs only in sleep. No treatment needed)

Self care

Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child, contact NHS 111 – dial 111 or for children aged 5 years and above visit 111.nhs.uk

This content has been developed by healthcare professionals from across the UK in collaboration with the RCPCH.

What to do if your child remains unconscious

 If your child remains unconscious place your child on their side until help arrives as seen below. 

child recovery position.jpg

Feedback Question: Has the advice on this page helped you with a healthcare decision?

There are many sensory issues associated with sleep including:

  • Sensitivity to sound, touch, and visual stimuli which can be distracting and distressing and can affect the process of falling asleep.
  • Interoception difficulties, particularly recognising when hungry, full or thirsty or when the person is tired. 
  • Some children are more sensitive to foods like sugar, caffeine and additives which keep people awake.

Look at the bedroom environment to see what may be affecting their ability to go to sleep and stay asleep. Do their pyjamas and bedclothes feel comfortable, are they too hot or cold?  Is it too light or too dark, too noisy or too quiet? Perhaps it is too cluttered and stimulating. Think about your child’s diet. Are they eating too early or not having enough to eat? Are they eating food that can stimulate them close to bedtime. There can be added difficulties where children have restrictive diets but some simple adjustments of what is eaten and when can make a big difference. 

Click here for more information on sensory issues.
 

Sticking to the same routine helps your child to know what to expect at bedtime and helps them feel secure. It also helps to support your child’s internal body clock and keep it on track. The age related sleep advice and information on this website can help with establishing routines. Some children will benefit from using picture timetables, timers or social stories to help them understand their bed-time routine. More information about visual supports can be found on these websites

Visual Resources | Autism West Midlands 
Visual Supports | Autism Toolbox Autism Toolbox

Your child may be feeling overstimulated after a busy day and needs help to wind down, or their environment may be overstimulating with lots of toys, TVs and computers within reach. Avoiding TV and computers or hand-held devices an hour before bedtime can help your child to wind down. Activities that are good for the wind down period are jigsaws and colouring. Having a relaxing bath and milky drink can help some children, but for some children having a bath can over-excite them so they may need to have their bath earlier in the day.

Children who wake to use the toilet, wet the bed, or who wear nappies or pull-ups at night that need changing may have disturbed sleep. Eric, the children’s bowel and bladder charity are a good source of advice on this topic.