Vasovagal syncope in children

Abstract

Syncope is common in pediatric population, carrying a significant health and psychological impact. The incidence of syncope in the pediatric age that requires medical intervention is estimated at 125 of 100,000 subjects (0.125%). An incidence peak occurs around the age of 15 years, with females having more than twice the incidence of males. A lower peak occurs in older infants and toddlers, most commonly referred to as “breath-holding spells.†In the pediatric age, the most common etiology is certainly neurally mediated syncope (61—80%), followed by neurological—neuropsychiatric loss of consciousness (LOC) (11—19%), and cardiac syncope (6—11.5%). The etiology remains undetermined in 15—20% of cases.