5-Minute Pediatric Consult
Syncope
BASICS
DESCRIPTION
Brief loss of consciousness due to transient cerebral hypoperfusion with loss of postural tone and spontaneous recovery
GENERAL PREVENTION
- Avoiding circumstances predisposing to the most common form of syncope (vasovagal)
- Sitting or lying down when warning signs occur
- Maintaining adequate hydration, especially during illness/exertion
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
The most common mechanism is vasovagal or neurocardiogenic in which a variety of stimuli and conditions—pain, heat, dehydrated state, emotional upset, carotid pressure—trigger increased vagal tone, leading to slowed heart rate, peripheral vasodilatation, and decreased cerebral perfusion.
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Citation
Cabana, Michael D., editor. "Syncope." 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 9th ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2025. Pediatrics Central, peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/617408/all/Syncope.
Syncope. In: Cabana MDM, ed. 5-Minute Pediatric Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/617408/all/Syncope. Accessed August 21, 2026.
Syncope. (2025). In Cabana, M. D. (Ed.), 5-Minute Pediatric Consult (9th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/617408/all/Syncope
Syncope [Internet]. In: Cabana MDM, ed. 5-Minute Pediatric Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. [cited 2026 August 21]. Available from: https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/617408/all/Syncope.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - Syncope
ID - 617408
ED - Cabana,Michael D,
BT - 5-Minute Pediatric Consult
UR - https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/617408/all/Syncope
PB - Wolters Kluwer
ET - 9
DB - Pediatrics Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
