Hypoglycemia is a medical condition characterized by unusually low levels of glucose, a type of sugar, within the blood. Symptoms of hypoglycemia in children can occur for a number of reasons, including poorly controlled diabetes, a missed meal or excessive exercise. Parents who notice hypoglycemia symptoms in their child should contact a pediatrician to ensure their child receives appropriate treatment and care.
Fatigue, Weakness or Confusion
Children who have low blood sugar levels do not have adequate levels of energy within their bodies to support their normal activities. As a result, children with hypoglycemia can become unusually tired or weak as a symptom of this condition. A parent may notice that an affected child appears unusually confused or drowsy or is difficult to wake from sleep.
Blurred Vision, Headache or Dizziness
Hypoglycemia can cause vision alterations in certain children. A child may complain that she has difficulty seeing due to blurred or cloudy vision. She may say that her head hurts and can appear unstable while walking due to symptoms of dizziness or lightheadedness. Severely low blood sugar levels can cause a child to faint or lose consciousness. These symptoms of hypoglycemia should be reported to the child's pediatrician as soon as possible.
Tremors, Convulsions or Seizures
When the muscles of the body are not provided with enough sugar, they can begin to twitch involuntarily. As a result, children with hypoglycemia can experience unusual muscle or body tremors or convulsions as a symptom of this condition. Certain children may also experience seizures, which can be accompanied by loss of consciousness. These symptoms of hypoglycemia require immediate medical attention.
Pale Skin, Sweating or Increased Heart Rate
Children with low blood sugar levels can appear unusually pale or gray, according to health officials at Kids Health, a children's health information website established by the Nemours Foundation. A parent may also notice that a hypoglycemic child sweats excessively during the night and wakes up with wet, clammy or sticky skin. Children with this condition may also have an abnormally rapid heart rate, which may occur in conjunction with symptoms of sweating or dizziness.
Extreme Hunger, Stomachache or Irritability
Low blood sugar levels stimulate sensations of hunger within affected children. This can cause a child to eat frequently throughout the day or complain that he is hungry shortly after eating a meal. A child with hypoglycemia may say that his stomach hurts or that he feels nauseous due to hunger pains. Inadequate blood sugar levels can also affect a child's mood and may cause him to appear unusually irritable, cranky or upset.
