Six Year Old Girl Headaches, Dizzy, Vision Issue

My sons best friend suffers from migraine headaches, and one of his main symptoms is dizziness. (migraine associated vertigo)

Brain tumor? You are getting waaaaay ahead of yourself. Get her to an eye doctor and have her wear whatever glasses she is prescribed.

Do her symptoms improve once she's out of the house? If so, do you have a carbon monoxide detector in your house?

If they don't improve outside of the house, perhaps a visit to the eye doctor is in order. Or to her regular pediatrician. Problems with the inner ear can cause dizziness. I think a brain tumor is very unlikely.

my guess would be migranes.. but i would also check with her eye doctor, she may need a new perscription. I had to stop wearing my old glasses, they were making me dizzy.. went n got new ones and im perfectly fine
..does she sit in front of screens alot? computer/tv? .. if i siit on the computer too long without my glasses everything gets pretty blurry

Migraines, dizziness, and eye blurring can all be caused by adrenal hormone issues.
The fact that you have an anxiety disorder yourself makes this more likely, as adrenal/ thyroid hormone disorders can be passed to children while pregnant. Anxiety disorders themselves are adrenal related. They are typically caused by high adrenaline and/or histamine, dopamine, and serotonin dysregulation,which has it's roots in high or low cortisol/ aldosterone coming from adrenals.

I myself have had temporary vertigo, lasting 2 or 3 days. It was from low potassium. (which is also controlled by the hormone aldosterone). Make sure she is getting plenty/lots of potatoes, bananas, oranges, and romaine.

I would start by having her eyes rechecked. If dizzyness continues, especially if she notices it more when she gets up from a sitting position, she could have vasovagal syncope (low blood volume.) This is caused by low aldosterone which causes low sodium/high potassium.Those with advancing Vasovagal Syncope could have their vision start to turn dim/dark once they stood up- which means a loss of blood flow to the brain and the person was going to pass out. if she is getting on the floor and putting her head down, it sounds like it is a bit worse than just slight dizziness, and in fact she might be feeling like she would pass out. In that case, tell her if she does feel that way, to immediately get herself in a position where her heart is lower than her feet (elevate feet or at least get lateral, perhaps on her back with her knees up. )
Aldosterone controls the eye muscles, so hypoaldosterone sufferers do get dull pain the back of the eyes, they can also have light sensitivity, blurring vision (but not double vision). if you think this might be a possibility , you can e mail me and I can give you more info and what can help with it.

Magnesium can be very helpful for migraines. There is a product called CALM which is magnesium citrate. That is said to be easily absorbed. I would try that (that helps those who need potassium also.) Also, keep her well hydrated, as dehydration can cause headaches and dizzyness.

Is there any other prescription or any altering substance she is taking? Any recent shots? Any recent flu? Any recent antibiotic? Any SSRI's? All can alter hormones and electrolytes.

Other early symptoms of adrenal disorders are mental/emotional issues, sleep issues, blood sugar swings/hypoglycemia/diabetes, pain in knees-hips-and low back, asthma/stabbing chest and rib pain, stomach pain, NAUSEA, food allergy, skin allergy, and ongoing muscle pain after exertion- especially in thigh, calf, ankles, excessive popping joints, excessive ear pain with dark heavy wax buildup, itching skin, bad breath. larter smptoms include appetite changes, amongst other things.

If it hurts... Its not a tumor.

Rule of thumb with the brain... Because it has NO pain sensors!!! Pretty cool, right?

If it hurts (and you haven't hit your head):

The top 5 are probably what you're looking at(

- sinus infection (also messes w eyes)
- ear infection (makes on dizzy)
- migraine (eyes and balance)
- cold, flu, or allergies
- wrong prescription (or needs Rx for glasses)

None of which are really serious (except the flu, but the high fevers in flu aren't in your symptom set).

Doctor : Headache, dizziness, blurred vision

Relax. Stop thinking the worst. Brain tumors are rare. It's unlikely your daughter has one. Your anxiety about this will rub off on her and cause her to have more anxiety related symptoms.

Take her to see the pediatrician. That's a start. I'd make an appointment with an ophthamologist too. My parents always took us to an ophthamologist instead of an optometrist because they are medical doctors as well as optical doctors. They are more able to diagnose illness related to the eye, ears, head.

Yes, you should be concerned. The logical first step is to get a medical opinion. Stop with the research and brain tumors. smile

BTW I have periodic dizziness and for me it's related to age and debris in the ear. However, this started for me when I was in high school. They didn't know the cause then it's not likely I had debris in the ear then. I'm saying this to tell you there are many benign reasons for dizziness.

A sudden drop in blood pressure as can be caused by getting up in the morning can cause dizziness. The solution is to sit on the edge of the bed for a few minutes before walking. You can try that.

And dizziness is common with vision difficulties. I'm nearly always easily made dizzy when I get a new prescription for glasses or when I need a new prescription. I urge you to get her eyes checked and make sure she always wears her glasses.

you know vision changes can occur....especially when she's trying to wear glasses from Oct 2011! Time for a new eye exam. & as for actually wearing her glasses, time to "man up" & enforce the need for them.

but my very 1st stop would be the pediatrician. Lots of issues come to mind, but never once ....did brain tumor. Low blood sugar, high blood sugar, ear issues....lots of possibilities.

Please start with the dr....& not with dire fears! Peace to you.

"Never really wanted to wear them" ? That mom, was up to you, dad and her teacher to MAKE sure the child wore the glasses. Bad vision can cause a number of problems. I sincerely hope your child does not have a brain tumor. I suspect she needs to see the Optomologist for another exam and make sure if she should be wearing eye glasses that she does.

Call your pediatrician telling the advice nurse her symptoms have not gone away.

Inquire about possible vertigo in a child.

I would also request a CT scan. Not for a brain tumor but to rule out other things that can show up on these scans.

Don't get ahead of yourself with worry but just take some action.

My first thought was migraines...visual migraines can be so frightening. I get them and one of my daughter has them. I would keep a log of when she gets them and exactly what she is experiencing until you see her pediatrician. Also help her to breath calmly because they can really make you feel a lot of anxiety and panic. Best wishes!

If she hasn't been wearing her glasses, that could account for the headaches but it could be in combination with other causes. It does sound like a migraine to me. I would get her eyes retested by an ophthalmologist AND get her checked out by a pediatric neurologist.

I would have her looked at, by and ENT. It sounds like she might have sinus or inner ear issues. I have been a long time sufferer of sinus and inner ear problem and it really is uncomfortable. I have had days that the dizziness was so bad I had to sit with my head on my knees. When she gets dizzy, try giving her a dose of benedryl. That might help

I am surprised the eye doc didn't mention ocular headaches. Ask when you take her.

Vision issues should not be making a child so dizzy upon waking (she hasn't even had her eyes open!) that she ends up on her knees on the floor.

Don't worry about posting here. Don't troll the Internet for symptoms. Get her to the doctor tomorrow and insist on testing for not just vision but also blood sugar issues, migraines, serious allergies, even possible concussion (could she have hit or even just jerked her head somehow? My friend's son's head just jerked in a rear-end collision and he had a concussion.) And yes, ask the doctor very assertively about whether she needs an MRI or other scan. Was it the pediatrician who gave her eye drops? She should see an opthamologist or optometrist for eye issues, not the ped. But at this point with the dizziness and headaches, I would get to the pediatrician -- but would not leave there without some appointments for specialist tests.

Do not assume brain tumor but also do not listen to anything you read online either way. Don't assume vision issues either. Don't assume, period.

This is the time for doctors and the power that comes from real information, not the time for going online here or anywhere else. Don't be upset if doctors order tests; these tests rule things OUT as well as finding problems.

Are you being actively treated for you anxiety? If not please do that immediately at the same time you are aggressively getting your child attended to. You can't help her if you are tied up in knots with anxiety. Help her by helping yourself if you need it!