Any heart problems in children cause anxiety in their parents, because the heart is one of the most important organs, and its work affects the health of the baby as a whole. One of the most common "heart" diagnoses in childhood is arrhythmia. In about 40% of cases, arrhythmia is detected in children accidentally during the examination, but in some cases it disrupts the child's well-being and requires immediate medical attention.
What is it
This is the name for a violation of the functioning of the heart, which is manifested by a change in the regularity or frequency of contractions of this organ. It can appear at any age, but most often arrhythmia is detected in newborns and infants, in children 4-5 years old, in schoolchildren aged 7-8 years, as well as in adolescence.
Causes
All factors provoking the development of arrhythmias are divided into cardiac (they are also called cardiac) and extracardiac (they are called "extracardiac").
Arrhythmia can occur with such cardiac pathology:
- Congenital malformations.
- Postoperative period in the surgical treatment of congenital malformations.
- Rheumatism.
- Myocarditis.
- Hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy.
- Myocardial dystrophy.
- Tumor of the heart.
- Heart trauma.
- Pericarditis.
- Heart manipulation.
- Congenital rhythm disturbances.
Non-cardiac causes of cardiac arrhythmias include:
- Infections with dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
- Prematurity.
- Intrauterine growth retardation.
- Emotional overload.
- Vegeto-vascular disorders.
- Diseases of the thyroid gland.
- Anemia.
- High physical activity.
- Diseases of the adrenal glands.
- CNS pathologies.
Symptoms
For arrhythmias, some specific symptoms are often uncharacteristic. In childhood, it can manifest itself:
- Weakness.
- Shortness of breath.
- Pale skin.
- Increased fatigue.
- Discomfort in the chest.
- Refusal to eat.
- Sleep disorders.
- Poor weight gain.
- Restless behavior of the child.
- Dizziness.
- Pulsating vessels in the neck.
- Cyanosis of the skin.
- Poor exercise tolerance.
- Feelings of interruptions in the work of the heart.
- Fainting.
Kinds
Arrhythmias arising in childhood are classified on the basis of the disorders in the heart that provoke them:
- Automatism dysfunctions. They are represented by sinus arrhythmias, which can be in the form of tachycardia (rapid sinus rhythm), respiratory arrhythmias (breathing disorders), and bradycardia (slow sinus rhythm). With impaired automation, pacemaker migration is also encountered.
- Disturbances of excitability. With it, extrasystoles, paroxysmal tachycardia, flutter and flickering of the chambers of the heart (both ventricles and atria) occur,
- Conduction disturbances. Such arrhythmias are called blockages.
Clinically, unstable arrhythmias are distinguished, which do not pose a danger and pass on their own, as well as persistent arrhythmic disorders requiring treatment. Depending on the severity, arrhythmia is moderate (more often diagnosed in children) and severe (more rare).
What is dangerous
With pronounced arrhythmias, it is possible to develop hypoxia of brain tissue and heart failure. Some types of arrhythmias have a high risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
Diagnostics
You can suspect the occurrence of arrhythmias in a child when listening to his heart during a routine examination by a pediatrician, as well as when calculating the pulse, which can be done by both the doctor and the mother at home. The main method for detecting arrhythmias is ECG registration. To clarify the diagnosis, daily monitoring (Holter's), stress tests, ultrasound, radiography, consultations of narrow specialists are carried out.
Treatment
If the arrhythmia in a child is caused by functional reasons, it is not treated, but attention is paid to a balanced diet, moderate physical activity, and the correct organization of the child's day regimen. With severe arrhythmias, the child needs treatment, which can be medication, as well as surgical, depending on the cause of the heart rhythm disturbance.
Drug therapy for arrhythmias is aimed at normalizing electrolyte balance and improving metabolic processes in the heart. If necessary, antiarrhythmic medications are prescribed. In some cases, they resort to surgery, for example, they destroy arrhythmogenic zones in the myocardium or implant a pacemaker.
You can find out what to do for parents with children who have arrhythmias by watching the following video.
