1 Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock
Sudden loss of consciousness in children may be caused by either cardiac or neurologic dysfunction. Generalized seizure activity, breath-holding spells, and vasovagal syncope precipitated by a variety of factors frequently occur.1,2 The following case illustrates an unusual cause of repeated loss of consciousness in a child.
CASE REPORT
A 4-year-old white girl was in excellent health until 18 months of age when she first appeared to faint. During following 3 months, she was asymptomatic but then began having similar fainting episodes several times a day. For the next 2 years, the mother sought medical attention from pediatricians, cardiologists, neurologists, and otolaryngologists and began keeping detailed daily records of all spells.