Heart arrhythmias in children, what are the symptoms and are they dangerous?

But although usually the heart beats regularly, the heart rate can change easily. Fever, crying, or exercising makes your heart beat faster. During sleep it will slow down. An abnormal or irregular heart rhythm condition is called a heart arrhythmia. Cardiac arrhythmias are possible at any age. Often heart arrhythmias are asymptomatic. In general, parents never suspect that their child has an arrhythmia and are surprised to be diagnosed as such when their child is seen by a doctor.

What causes cardiac arrhythmias in children?

Some children are born with abnormalities in the heart circuits, but arrhythmias can also be caused by infections or chemical imbalances in the blood. The regular heart rhythm is maintained by small electrical circuits that run through the nerves in the walls of the heart. If the circuit is working properly, the heart rate is very regular; but if there is a problem with the circuit, the heart rhythm becomes irregular.

If the pediatrician says that the child has a genuine heart arrhythmia, it means that the heart is beating faster than normal (tachycardia), very fast (pounding), fast and irregular (fibrillation), slower than usual (brachycardia), or has missed the initial beat (premature heartbeat). Premature heartbeat is another form of rhythm irregularity that does not require treatment. If it happens to a child, he or she may say that his heart is "racing". Usually this symptom does not indicate the presence of a particular heart disease.

Although genuine arrhythmias are not very common, if they do occur they can be dangerous. In rare cases, genuine heart arrhythmias can cause the child to faint or even fail. Fortunately, this condition can be treated easily, so it is important to detect arrhythmias as early as possible.

What are the signs and symptoms of cardiac arrhythmias in children?

If your child has heart arrhythmias, you may only find out during the doctor's examination when treating other diseases. However, if you notice any of the following warning signs outside of a pediatrician visit, tell your doctor right away.

The baby is suddenly pale and lethargic; his body felt paralyzed, limp
The child complains of "fast heart beats" when not playing or exercising
The child tells that he or she feels uncomfortable, weak, or dizzy
The child passes out

How do doctors diagnose heart arrhythmias in children?

Your child may never experience some of the above symptoms. But if so, the doctor will perform additional tests and possibly consult a pediatric cardiologist. In the process, the doctor may use an electrocardiogram (ECG), to be better able to distinguish an arrhythmia due to normal activity from the original arrhythmia. An ECG is a cassette that records the electrical impulses that make the heart beat, and will allow doctors to more closely observe heart rhythm irregularities.

Sometimes a child's abnormal heartbeat may appear at unexpected times. In that case the cardiologist may suggest that the child carry a small portable recorder that continues to record his heart rate throughout a 1-2 day period. During this time you will be asked to record the child's activities and symptoms. The correlation of the ECG with your observations will support the diagnosis. For example, if a child feels their heart is "pounding" and becomes dizzy at 2:15 pm and the ECG shows that their heart is beating faster at the same time, the diagnosis of tachycardia may be made.

Occasionally the irregular heart rate will only occur during exercise. If that is the case with the child, the cardiologist may ask the child to ride a stationary bicycle or run on a treadmill while their heart rate is being recorded. When your child is old enough to participate in sports, ask the doctor if other tests or special restrictions are needed.