When should I worry about heart palpitations in children?
If your child is complaining of palpitations that are followed by fainting or he/she looks non responsive or if he/she looks progressively more pale, sweaty and tired/breathless you should call the emergency medical services immediately (999 in London and the UK).
What is child tachycardia?
Tachycardia is an abnormally fast heart rate. During an episode of tachycardia, your child may feel dizzy, weak or uncomfortable, and the heart may beat more than 160 times per minute. It is unusual for tachycardia to cause the heart to stop all of a sudden.
How do I know if my child’s heart is beating too fast?
A child whose heart is beating fast or irregularly often won’t have the vocabulary to describe what’s happening. They may describe vague chest symptoms, a fluttering or racing heart or skipped heartbeats. They may say, “My heart is beating out of my chest,” or “My heart is beeping.”
Is it normal for a child to have palpitations?
Most palpitations are benign and not a cause for concern. If your child describes his or her “heart racing fast” when not participating in vigorous exercise, that is very unusual. Usually, the child will report a sudden onset and a sudden relief of their sensation of a fast heart rate.
Can a child have arrhythmia?
An arrhythmia is any change in the regular, even rhythm of the heartbeat. Most arrhythmias are harmless, but some can be serious and even life-threatening. Many arrhythmias in children are isolated occurrences and harmless, and do not need treatment.
How do you control tachycardia in children?
Treatment options include digoxin, beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers and the sodium-channel blocker, flecainide. While there is significant variation in practice, the majority of European centers use flecainide or atenolol as the first choice of drug for the prevention of recurrent Supraventricular tachycardia.
What should a child’s heart rate be at rest?
Typical normal resting heart rate ranges are: babies (birth to 3 months of age): 100–150 beats per minute. kids 1–3 years old: 70–110 beats per minute. kids by age 12: 55–85 beats per minute.
How do I know if my child has an irregular heartbeat?
What are common symptoms of irregular heartbeat in children?
- feeling tired or weak.
- feeling dizzy or lightheaded.
- having palpitations or a fluttering feeling in the chest.
- experiencing chest pain.
- noticing that heartbeats feel fast, slow, or off-rhythm.
- feeling short of breath or having trouble breathing.
- appearing pale.
What are the possible causes of palpitations?
Common triggers of heart palpitations include:
- strenuous exercise.
- not getting enough sleep.
- drinks containing caffeine, such as coffee, tea and energy drinks.
- alcohol.
- smoking.
- illegal drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, ecstasy and cannabis.
- rich or spicy foods.
What arrhythmia is normal in children?
Sinus arrhythmia: This is the most common type of irregular heartbeat in children. It causes a faster heartbeat when children inhale, and a slower heartbeat when they exhale. It’s a normal finding that doesn’t require treatment.
