Hair-Grooming Syncope in Children

Abstract

Objectives. This report describes children undergoing pediatric cardiology evaluation for syncope in which a hair-grooming trigger was determined as the stimulus. Methods. A review of our database revealed 1525 patients with syncope seen by our program of whom 111 had a hair-grooming trigger determined as a cause. Results. Of the 111 patients, 78% were girls. We found characteristic difference between boys and girls with boys experiencing syncope more during hair cutting whereas girls experienced syncope more during hair combing and brushing. Electrocardiograms and echocardiograms were performed as part of syncope evaluation and no significant abnormalities were found in either test in this patient group. Conclusions. This is the largest reported group of children presenting with syncope that had a hair-grooming trigger. Our data also include the first series of boys with the condition. The hair-grooming trigger appears to stimulate a benign form of neurocardiogenic reflex syncope.