Children rarely need to exercise in the tedious ways most adults do. They are often active enough that playing with friends and spending time outside helps them exert the energy needed to keep their bodies fit and healthy. These activities also cause children to exercise without realizing the benefits to their physical fitness. But children may also become dizzy while active, and this can be alarming to both parents and the children themselves. Fortunately, this can be examined to determine whether the dizziness is a passing development or a symptom of something more serious.
Symptoms
When a child becomes dizzy, he may also report feeling faint or disoriented. Nausea may also occur, and this can lead to vomiting. Your child's skin may appear pale, clammy and sweaty, and he may develop the shakes and even struggle to remain upright. Your child may report being thirsty or having a dry mouth. In most cases, these symptoms should develop and decline within a few minutes. In more serious cases, a fever, sore throat, fatigue and headache may occur.
Possible Causes
Dehydration may have developed in your child -- this is more likely if she has been active for a long period of time and/or has not been drinking water consistently. Low blood sugar levels may occur if your child has missed a meal or exercises too long without any food. Anaemia may also occur, and the effects and symptoms of anaemia can become more pronounced during exercise if the condition is not treated. According to BBC Health, a viral infection may be affecting the inner ear and inducing dizziness, although this is not directly related to exercise.
Treatment
Have your child sit down and sip some water. You may also want to give him some food to raise his blood sugar levels. Make sure he breathes deep and tries to calm down to alleviate his dizziness. Watch your child to see if the dizziness persists or if he loses consciousness. If any abnormal developments occur or your child's dizziness does not go away, you may need to seek medical attention.
Considerations
If you are in doubt about the cause of your child's dizziness, contact a doctor who can listen to your child's symptoms and make a determination. Keep in mind that it is possible dizziness may have developed coincidentally during exercise and is not related to any physical activity -- an infection, for example, may have its symptoms exacerbated by exercise, but the infection itself will persist after exercise and may require treatment.
