Dizziness - From Dehydration

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Definition

  • Dizziness is a sensation of light-headedness or feeling faint

Call or Return 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

About This Topic

Symptoms

  • Feeling dizzy or light headed
  • Feeling unsteady with slight loss of balance
  • Feeling "woozy" or the not thinking clearly
  • May also have brief blurring of vision

Cause

  • Dizziness is usually due to reduced blood flow to the brain. Mild dehydration is a common cause of dizziness. This means that the body has lost too much fluid. Common causes of this are:
  • Not drinking enough fluids.
  • Too much sun or working in the heat. Reason: increased sweating.
  • Sports or hard work. Reason: Causes sweating and fluid loss.

Dizziness Scale

  • Mild: walks normal
  • Moderate: interferes with normal activities such as playing, school or sports
  • Severe: can't stand, needs support to walk, feels like passing out now

After Care Advice

Overview:
  • 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 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.
Rest:
  • 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.

Author: Barton Schmitt MD, FAAP Copyright

Disclaimer: This health information is for educational purposes only. You the reader assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

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