Moderate bradycardia in an 11-year-old child. What is cardiac bradycardia in children? The most common of them are considered

In most cases, doctors discover problems with the heart in the first months of a newborn’s life. But even in a healthy baby, noise and arrhythmia are sometimes diagnosed during life as a reaction to stress and viral and bacterial infections.

Bradycardia in children as a confirmed diagnosis is less common than other heart diseases.

In the practice of cardiorheumatologists, when a disease is detected and its severity is determined, treatment is prescribed or the child’s condition is monitored for several months and years. In such a situation, it is important for parents to independently monitor the well-being and complaints of their children in order to provide the doctor with complete and reliable information.

To understand all the nuances associated with this topic, it is important to understand what it is - bradycardia in children, and what complications it is dangerous for. The disease is characterized by a reduced number of heart muscle contractions per minute. Different age groups have their own:

for newborns from the first days of life to one year - 100-120 beats per minute;
from 3 to 7 years – 80-90 strokes;
from 8 years to adolescence 70-80 beats.

If the heart rate deviates from the indicated numbers by 20 units or more, doctors diagnose sinus bradycardia of the heart. What is it like in children? This is a reduced number of contractions of the heart muscle compared to normal, despite the fact that sinus rhythm is preserved.

Doctors observe a similar picture among athletes who systematically perform strength exercises with loads.

The picture is considered critical when the heart beats no more than 40 times per minute. With such a heart rate, careful examination and special treatment are necessary.

Sinus bradycardia in a child has a complex development mechanism associated with changes in the functioning of the so-called sinus node, which is located in the area of the right atrium, at the point where the inferior and superior vena cava flow into it. It stimulates heart contractions, but if the impulses lose the desired frequency, they indicate damage to the node, changes in the body and pathology.

Bradycardia in a child is dangerous due to oxygen starvation of all internal organs due to circulatory disorders. The brain is especially affected. In serious cases, the disease is fraught with frequent fainting, breath holding, the development of vegetative-vascular dystonia, cardiac arrest and sudden death.

Causes

The occurrence of cardiac bradycardia in children from infancy indicates congenital pathologies of the cardiovascular system. But the disease can appear at any age, including adolescence. The development of diseases is caused by internal factors, external factors and heredity.

Causes of bradycardia in children:

fetal hypoxia;
congenital diseases of the nervous system;
hypothyroidism and other problems in the functioning of the thyroid gland and the endocrine system as a whole;
increased intracranial pressure;
intensive growth of skeleton and muscles;
past viral and bacterial infections;
prolonged hypothermia;
taking medications for a long time;
poisoning with nicotine and other toxic substances and vapors.

Bradycardia in a child 3 years of age or younger can occur after severe fright, stress, or psychological trauma. As a rule, such conditions are reversible. A slow rhythm can be caused by prolonged poor nutrition, obesity, or professional sports.

Symptoms in children

The disease does not always manifest characteristic symptoms at the initial stage. Symptoms of bradycardia in children depend on the causes of development. Pathologies of the heart and nervous system give vivid symptoms, past infections and stress are more blurred and reversible. The frequency and intensity of symptoms indicate the form of development of the disease.

Light form

It is not dangerous to life and health, and is often a normal condition with an asthenic physique. Mild bradycardia in a child is manifested only by a slow heart rate. Heart rate is at the level of 50-60 beats with normal health. Possible manifestations of fatigue after physical activity, pale skin, and headache. Bradycardia in a 10-year-old child in mild form can occur as a result of age-related changes in the body.

Moderate manifestations

With moderate bradycardia in a child, the symptoms of the disease appear more often and are more pronounced. In this case, the heart rate is more than 40 beats, but less than 60, and arrhythmia may be absent. Characteristic symptoms:

fatigue and drowsiness;
pale skin;
dizziness;

All symptoms worsen with physical activity. Moderate sinus bradycardia in a child is diagnosed by ECG. As a rule, the patient feels fine. The form of the disease indicates probable functional changes in the body and requires serious diagnostics.

Manifestation of cardiac bradycardia

Expressed

Absolute or severe sinus bradycardia in a child as a diagnosis is rare and is associated with serious pathologies of the entire cardiovascular system, endocrine or nervous.

Symptoms:

Heart rate 40 beats or less;
memory impairment;
poor appetite;
sweating;
swelling of soft tissues;
dizziness, nausea.

Severe bradycardia in a 7-year-old child is manifested by poor school performance and rapid fatigue. This form of the disease is especially dangerous for children under 1 year of age, as it can cause respiratory arrest and cardiac arrest. Even isolated cases of a decrease in heart rate to 40 beats are a reason for prescribing drug treatment and a thorough examination.

Is treatment required?

The disease does not always require medication. The doctor’s prescriptions are based on an examination, which involves a general and biochemical blood test, ultrasound of the heart, and ECG.

Treatment of bradycardia in children with a mild form in the absence of arrhythmia is carried out by taking vitamin and mineral complexes and organizing a balanced diet. Load regulation is possible.

For moderate forms, vitamins and a balanced diet including walnuts, seafood, and fiber-rich vegetables are also relevant. If arrhythmia is detected, the cardiologist may prescribe eleutherococcus and strong tea.

Bradycardia in a 6-year-old child may occur due to insufficient physical activity, since the number of heartbeats at rest is lower. Parents should encourage their children to play actively.

The severe form of the disease sometimes requires hospitalization and always regular examinations by a cardiologist. The treatment method involves:

proper organization of a diet with a high content of magnesium and potassium in the diet, dairy products, cereals, nuts, seafood and vegetables, reducing the proportion of salty foods;
elimination of chronic infectious diseases (tonsillitis, otitis media, etc.);
taking sympathomimetics that stimulate heart rate (Ephedrine, Caffeine, etc.);
taking natural medicines as an auxiliary therapy (ginseng tincture, herbal teas).

In certain situations, young patients are prescribed medications that improve metabolism in the body, correct electrolyte metabolism, and eliminate oxygen starvation of the brain and other organs.

In severe cases, surgery to install a pacemaker is necessary. Indications for surgery are frequent fainting with cardiac arrest and other life-threatening changes in health.

Can my child play sports?

Bradycardia in children and sports are completely compatible concepts. Moderate loads are indicated for the first two forms of the disease. They should be regular and not long-lasting. Professional sports are replaced by amateur ones, and they adhere to a training regimen.

The ideal sport indicated for reducing heart rate is swimming.

Severe bradycardia in a child of 5 years and any other age requires the selection of special exercises with the exception of trunk rotations. Long walks in the fresh air for 3 hours a day are very useful.

Useful video

You can learn more about bradycardia in children from this video:

conclusions
A decrease in heart rate is rarely diagnosed in medical practice. In the total share of all heart diseases it is 3.5%.
In the absence of congenital defects, the development of the disease can be prevented by proper organization of the daily routine and nutrition.
It is important to treat all infectious diseases promptly and completely, not to limit the child’s activity and to include more fresh vegetables and fruits in the menu.

Any self-medication for illness is unacceptable.

Heart bradycardia in children - is it dangerous, and what is it? Changes in the functioning of the heart lead to a slower heart rate.

The body does not receive the required amount of oxygen, as a result of which disturbances in the functioning of the systems and organs of the child’s body occur.

People of any age are susceptible to heart disease. Pulse deviations are checked according to the established heart rate rate. Count the child's pulse and compare it with the data in the table.

Types of bradycardia in children and its causes

The disease is observed even in the youngest. The question arises why the causes of bradycardia are especially pronounced in newborns. Let's list them:
autoimmune diseases of the pregnant woman and fetus;
metabolic disruptions (increased calcium levels, dysfunction of the thyroid gland, decreased potassium in the body, failure of water-salt metabolism, hypothermia or overheating).

Cases of bradycardia in children aged 4 to 6 years occur in the presence of the following factors:

heart disease;
infections (flu, chickenpox, scarlet fever);
diseases of the nervous and endocrine system;
poisoning with drugs that slow the heart rate;
disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system.

Causes of bradycardia in adolescents:

complications after surgical interventions;
damage and irritation of sinus node tissue;
problems with the autonomic nervous system;
increased size of internal organs;
overdose of antiarrhythmic drugs and cardiac glycosides.

Depending on the causes of occurrence, two types of condition are classified.

Sinus form

The disease is caused by a violation of the impulse supply by the sinus node, which transmits it through the atria to all parts of the heart. If the main source of excitation of the signal to contract the heart does not work correctly, not automatically (under the influence of increased tone of the vagus nerve), then this leads to a slowdown in the heartbeat.

Heterotopic form

Bradycardia of this type rarely occurs in children. In this case, the sinus node does not perform its function, and another part of the heart serves as the conductor of the rhythm. It occurs due to damage to the main pacemaker, disturbances in the tone of one of the two parts of the autonomic nervous system.

What bradycardia is is explained by the degrees of the condition, which differ in the frequency of contractions.

The mild type (50 - 60 beats/min.) proceeds unnoticed, with transparent symptoms. This leads to a slower heart rate, but is not dangerous to the child's health. The disease is detected by laboratory testing.

In athletes (children), bradycardia occurs due to significant physical activity, the tone of the vagus nerve increases, but the form of the disease is moderate (40 - 50 beats/min). The child requires mandatory treatment.

The severe form (less than 40 beats/min) leads to serious problems and requires hospital treatment. There is a risk of hypoxia.

Symptoms of bradycardia in children

Moderate sinus bradycardia is usually asymptomatic.

Children do not express complaints about their well-being, and infants are not able to convey their feelings.

The disease is usually discovered during a medical examination. But parents also need to be vigilant and attentive to the signs of bradycardia.

If you notice the following symptoms, you should consult a doctor promptly:

apathy, lethargy, impotence (especially after physical activity);
poor appetite, nausea;
frequent fainting;
pale skin;
dizziness and tinnitus;
blood pressure surges;
dyspnea;
decreased concentration;
pain in the chest and head;
slow heart rate.

Important! A decrease in heart rate is a sign of bradycardia. You should check the child's pulse and count the number of heartbeats on the wrist.

A pronounced form of bradycardia in children is dangerous due to the occurrence of Morgagni-Adams-Stokes syndrome. The condition is characterized by a sudden stop of blood circulation, dizziness, loss of consciousness, pale skin, and involuntary bowel movements. There is no heartbeat. After a short period of time, the patient comes to his senses.

If you notice the first symptoms of bradycardia in children in time and consult a cardiologist in time, who will determine the exact reasons for the decrease in heart rate, then the treatment will be many times more effective, and the complications will be minimal.

Possible complications

The consequences of proper and timely therapy are minimal. To do this, you should strictly follow all the specialist’s recommendations. A slow heartbeat in a child can cause the following complications:

poor health;
decreased performance;
cardiovascular failure;
cardiac ischemia;
ventricular fibrillation;
diseases of the cerebral cortex;
thromboembolism;
myocardial infarction;
cardiac arrhythmia, which leads to sudden death.

Bradycardia is especially dangerous in infants, since the heart beats quickly (3 contractions in one breath), and when the pulse slows down, blood circulation in tissues and organs is disrupted, ischemia and various diseases occur. Complications can lead to developmental delays, limited mobility and pose a threat to the child’s life.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis of bradycardia is carried out by a cardiologist. To make an accurate diagnosis, the following examinations are prescribed:

Anamnesis and survey of patient complaints (weakness, dizziness, fainting, physical overload).
Listening to the heart rhythm and counting the pulse by a doctor.
ECG data that determines the type of bradycardia (sinus or heterotopic).
Ultrasound, MRI, which are prescribed for suspected heart disease.
Blood test (given to identify disorders in the body).
X-rays are used to exclude chest contusion, detect congestion, and changes in the size of the heart muscles.
Urine and blood tests for hormones.

Treatment of bradycardia

The child’s body grows and develops, so treatment of bradycardia in children is prescribed only by a cardiologist, taking into account age, medical history and possible complications.

The doctor determines the course of treatment based on the examination data, namely:

blood pressure status;
whether fainting is observed;
change in concentration, decrease in learning abilities;
ECG, MRI data;
causes of the disease;
type and degree of bradycardia.

An important component of treatment is the elimination or relief of diseases that led to the disease.

Mild bradycardia does not affect brain functions, so therapy includes nutritional correction and taking multivitamin complexes.

Meals include:

dried fruits, bananas;
seafood;
nuts;
vegetable oil;
dairy products.

You should limit the consumption of spicy, salty, smoked, fried foods. Meals should be in small portions (5 - 6 meals).

Therapy with herbal preparations is allowed, which are prescribed only by a doctor; independent treatment for young children is unacceptable.

To strengthen the heart muscle, a set of physical exercises is prescribed.

The moderate form is treated with antiarrhythmic drugs and supplemented with diet. When Morgagni-Adams-Stokes attacks occur at a pronounced stage, a pacemaker is implanted through surgery.

Prevention

It is necessary to follow some rules to ensure that the child’s body is healthy and has a strong heart:

timely detection and treatment of diseases under the supervision of a doctor;
moderate physical exercise, hardening, healthy lifestyle;
proper balanced nutrition, rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals;
giving up bad habits, including smoking;
spending time outdoors.

Bradycardia requires constant monitoring of the child's condition. If the disease becomes more serious, measures should be taken immediately, because depletion of the heart muscle can be fatal.

Improper functioning of the heart always affects a person’s well-being. Bradycardia is a condition in which there is a slowing of the pulse (decreased heart rate). The disease is rare in children, but requires observation.

Possible causes of childhood bradycardia:

hereditary predisposition;
presence of infectious diseases;
rapid growth of the child;
diseases of the cardiovascular system.

About childhood bradycardia in the video of the Russian Pediatricians Union:

In newborns

The normal heart rate for newborns is 120-140 beats. This value is variable and depends on whether the child was born in a timely manner.

The criterion for sinus bradycardia in an infant is a heart rate of less than 100 per minute for more than 10 s. The clearly pathological nature of bradycardia is considered when the heart rate is less than 90 in premature infants, and less than 80 in full-term infants.

From 1 year and older

Over time, the heart rate begins to decrease. By the first year of life, 130-132 beats are considered the norm.

By the age of two, the heart rate will drop to 124 beats. However, at this age, this indicator is influenced by the activity of children, physical activity and other factors; the heart rate can be from 95-155 beats. The normal heart rate for children aged 5-6 years is 105 beats.

A deviation from the norm and a sign of the disease is a decrease in heart rate to 80-90 beats per minute.

In school-age children

For schoolchildren, the normal heart rate ranges from 80-110 beats. The disease in school-age children manifests itself as a decrease in heart rate to 70 beats per minute.

It is more convenient for children to measure their heart rate with a pulsometer. They come in different types. For example, it is very convenient during sports activities, compact and easy to use, and this is a classic version of a portable heart rate monitor.

In teenagers

In children aged 13 to 15 years, the pulse is considered normal if it ranges from 65-95 beats. The heartbeat of a teenager over 15 years of age should normally be the same as that of an adult. With bradycardia in adolescents, heart rate decreases to 50-60 beats per minute.

Types and differences

Depending on the causes, the disease is divided into three types: pathological bradycardia, drug-induced and physiological.

Physiological occurs quite often in absolutely healthy people. The reason is physical activity, for example, active training. If a child plays football, hockey or martial arts, it is likely that after training there may be a slow heartbeat due to fatigue.

Drug-induced bradycardia may manifest itself after the child undergoes a course of treatment with certain medications. Taking medications incorrectly can cause the disease. Such drugs include:

cardiac glycosides - herbal products that are taken for acute or chronic forms of heart failure (Korglykon, Celanide, Digoxin);
muscle relaxants - drugs that are used for anesthesia to relax skeletal muscles (Mivacron, Lystenon, Arduan);
potassium preparations.

You should be wary when the disease develops against the background of other ailments, for example, with diseases of the heart (intracardial bradycardia) or other organs (extracardiac).

Symptoms

There are three degrees of the disease: moderate, severe and mild bradycardia. Each degree has its own heart rate and symptoms.

Light form

This degree is characterized by a decrease in heart rate to 60 beats per minute.. A slow heart rate can occur in healthy people. The following factors may influence this:

physical activity;
hypothermia;

Moderate degree

In this case, the child may not be bothered by anything. The baby's heart beats at a rate of about 50 beats per minute.

However, even with little physical activity, the child’s body will lack blood supply. The following symptoms may appear:

fainting;
dizziness when rising from a chair or bed;
weakness;
dyspnea;
sleep disturbance;
pain in the chest area;
loss of strength and inability to perform any physical activity.

Severe bradycardia

With severe bradycardia, fainting and falling often occur. This condition is accompanied by a decrease in heart rate to 40 beats per minute.

Can there be one-time manifestations? Yes, and this happens quite often. For example, if the child was very scared.

Diagnostic methods

Diagnosis of decreased heart rate in children is carried out according to the following scheme:

Interviewing parents and compiling a list of complaints.
Conducting an analysis of the history of all previous infectious diseases and operations.
Mandatory examination by a pediatrician and cardiologist.
Urinalysis and.
Carrying out.
Carrying out a heart rate deviation test.
Determining the need for treatment.

Attention: the list is not complete, since in some situations additional laboratory tests or consultation with other specialists, for example, a neurologist, are required.

Signs on ECG

On the ECG, bradycardia manifests itself in the form of a decrease in heart rate (indicator below 60 beats), as well as in the presence of the P wave. Electrocardiography allows you to determine the severity of bradycardia, as well as establish the form of the disease (blockade, etc.).

ECG is often performed with various tests (physical activity, orthostatic test). This research method allows you to determine the nature of bradycardia (relative or absolute), and also makes it possible to assess the increase in heart rate.

Treatment

In newborns and infants, if identified or other serious diseases are detected, urgent hospitalization and surgery are required. It is not recommended to put the baby to sleep during attacks, since at rest the heart rate will slow down even more. Sometimes a doctor prescribes:

caffeine;
theophylline;
Eleutherococcus extract;
ginseng root.

If the symptoms are pronounced, then hospitalization is required. To alleviate the patient's condition, it is necessary to control nutrition.

In children who have grown out of infancy, treatment of mild and moderate degrees of the disease is carried out by strengthening the body (for example, taking a vitamin complex and following a diet).

The diet includes walnuts, seafood and fiber-rich vegetables. The doctor may prescribe taking eleutherococcus.

In severe cases of the disease, hospitalization and always regular examinations by a cardiologist are sometimes required. Drug treatment is possible.

How to treat teenagers? The course of treatment often includes herbal adaptogens. These include:

Schisandra, zamanika, aralia (potent drugs);
Licorice root and strong tea (moderately stimulating);
Nettle and kelp have a general tonic effect.

The most famous adaptogen of animal origin is an extract from deer horns (pantocrine).

Drug therapy is prescribed by a doctor, who can prescribe the following medications:

nootropic drugs (Piracetam, Phenotropil, Biotredin);
belladonna preparations (for severe bradycardia), for example, bellataminal;
Gutron (for loss of consciousness);
multivitamin complex enriched with minerals.

For secondary bradycardia, which occurs against the background of other diseases, their treatment is recommended. For bradycardia due to congenital AV block or sick sinus syndrome, a pacemaker is implanted.

Lifestyle with arrhythmia

Child with bradycardia It is recommended to engage in swimming, gymnastics and hardening. Physical activity is not prohibited, but you need to choose a calm sport. Weightlifting and exhausting workouts are contraindicated.

Bradycardia in children is a phenomenon in which the heart rate decreases and the indicators are below the permissible limit. In rare cases, such a deviation is considered as a variant of the norm, but usually it indicates dangerous processes occurring in the body.

General characteristics of the pathology

When the heart rate (HR) decreases to levels below the age norm. For each period of child development, these indicators are different.

The following forms of deviation are considered:

absolute: the rhythm of the heart muscle is constantly slowed down, regardless of the general condition of the body and the factors that affect it;
relative: deviations are observed under the influence of a specific factor, which can be an increase in body temperature;
moderate: cardiac arrhythmia is characterized by the appearance of exhalation.

Heart rate norms in children and adolescents

Depending on age, the limits of normal heart rate differ.

for newborns, the average heart rate per minute ranges from 110-170 beats;
at the age of one month to a year, this figure decreases to 102-162 beats;
for children aged from one to two years, the norm will be 94-154 blows;
at the age of 2 to 4 years – 90-140 beats;
from 4 to 6 years – 86-126 beats;
from 6 to 8 years – 78-118 beats;
from 8 to 10 years – 68-108 beats;
from 10 to 12 years – 60-100 blows;
from 12 to 15 years – 55-95 beats.

Heart rate is a variable value that changes under the influence of various factors. A decrease of 20 units or more is considered a manifestation of bradycardia in children.

Risk factors

A decrease in heart rate in children and adolescents is provoked by factors such as:

dysfunctions of the nervous system;
congenital defects of the heart muscle (septal defects, stenoses);
disruption of the endocrine system;
pathologies of the thyroid gland;
brain tumors;
meningitis;
intoxication with chemicals (nicotine, lead);
rapid development of the heart muscle (typical for teenagers);
hypothermia of the body;
past infectious diseases;
fetal hypoxia during intrauterine development;
drug overdose;
disturbances of blood flow in the vessels of the brain.

In some cases, isolated episodes of bradycardia in newborns indicate that the child was afraid of something, experienced strong emotions, or held his breath for a long time. Under such conditions there is no reason to worry.

Symptoms of bradycardia in children and adolescents

The deviation manifests itself in the following symptoms:

increased fatigue even with minor loads;
general weakness;
severe shortness of breath after running or playing;
pain in the chest area;
increased sweating;
loss of appetite;
fainting states;
deterioration in concentration;
dizziness;
pale skin;
swelling;
rare pulse;
cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle;

These symptoms indicate a violation of the contractility of the heart muscle and associated hypoxia.

Forms

Heart rate disturbances in children can be congenital (if associated with pathologies that arose during the period of intrauterine development of the fetus) or acquired.

Depending on the cause of the development of the pathology, the following types of bradycardia in children are distinguished:

. This is the most common type of heart rate disorder. In this case, the heart rhythm, despite the decrease in indicators, is still set by the sinus node.
Heterotopic. The disorder occurs when the activity of the sinus node is suppressed. Under such conditions, another part of the heart muscle becomes the conductor of the rhythm. In children, this form of bradycardia rarely occurs.

There are also several degrees of heart rate slowdown. This:

mild form (reduction to 50-60 beats per minute);
moderate (40-50 beats);
pronounced (below 40 beats).

Severe dysfunction requires treatment, since under such conditions disorders develop in the bloodstream.

Diagnostics

To identify bradycardia in children and adolescents, the following diagnostic measures are carried out:

counting heart rate by palpating blood vessels in the arm or neck;
echocardioscopy;
ECG with stress tests (squats, running in place);
Ultrasound of the heart muscle;
X-ray of the chest organs.

If necessary, the child is examined by an endocrinologist to identify thyroid disorders, as well as a neurologist to identify neurotic abnormalities.

Methods for treating bradycardia in children

Mild and moderate forms of pathology do not require treatment, but if a deviation is detected, the child should be observed by a cardiologist. With such forms of disorder, lifestyle correction is indicated, as well as the use of traditional medicine.

To normalize heart rate in children, you should:

Adjust your diet. It is necessary to include in the menu seafood, seaweed, nuts, bananas, dried fruits, vegetable oils, cereal side dishes, fresh and processed vegetables and fruits, legumes, pumpkin and sunflower seeds. A child with heart rate disorders should not drink carbonated drinks, eat sweets, sausages, canned food, smoked meats, or processed foods.
Create conditions for an active lifestyle. A child with heart rate abnormalities should under no circumstances suffer from physical inactivity.
Exercise in moderation. It is best to give preference to such types of physical activity as yoga, tennis, swimming.
Prevent the development of infectious processes.
Organize walks in the fresh air more often.

Also, in mild to moderate forms of bradycardia, the following can be used to stabilize the indicators:

A mixture of lemon, garlic and honey. You need to take 5 lemons, pour boiling water over them and squeeze out the juice. Add to it 5 heads of garlic and 500 g of honey, as well as the pulp of one chopped lemon. The product should infuse for two days. The finished product should be consumed once a day (preferably before lunch) in the amount of 4 teaspoons 30 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is 2 months.
Infusion of yarrow. To prepare the product, you need to take a tablespoon of raw material, pour a glass of boiling water and leave for 20 minutes. After this, strain the infusion. Take a tablespoon of medication once a day, 10 minutes before meals.
Valerian infusion. To prepare such a remedy, you need to take 3 teaspoons of crushed plant roots and pour a glass of boiled water. Infuse the liquid for 10 hours, then strain. Take the finished product 15 ml 3 times a day.

In case of attacks of severe weakness or dizziness, it is recommended to give the child a cup of strong tea or coffee. Taking a warm bath and doing light exercises will also help.

In case of severe manifestations of bradycardia, antiarrhythmics are prescribed: Eufillin, Ephedrine, ginseng extract. Medicines and dosage are selected strictly individually by the attending physician.

Is there any danger?

Mild and moderate bradycardia in children does not pose a health hazard.

Absolute slowing of the heart rate in children is dangerous, as the child may experience episodes of loss of consciousness. This is fraught with the possibility of injury, severe bruises, including the brain.

Bradycardia is also dangerous due to the fact that this phenomenon can provoke the development of heart failure. Due to weakness and frequent dizziness, which manifests itself as a violation of heart rate indicators, the child may lag behind in development - both physically and mentally.

Bradycardia in children and adolescents manifests itself in a decrease in heart rate. This phenomenon is associated with various pathologies of internal organs and systems. Mild forms of deviation do not require specific treatment, but children with such a diagnosis should be monitored by a cardiologist.

A decrease in heart contractions below the age norm indicates the development of bradycardia. So, in a newborn, the heart beats at a frequency of 120 beats/min, at 8 years old - about 90, and in teenagers 15 years old, the normal pulse is 60-70 beats/min. A severe form of the disease poses a danger to the child, which obliges parents, if there are appropriate symptoms, to promptly contact the clinic for diagnosis and treatment, and in their absence, take preventive measures to prevent the development of childhood bradycardia.

The human heart consists of several layers, one of which is the myocardium. It consists almost entirely of muscle fibers that can contract, and between the fibers there is a track that represents the conduction system. It includes several nodes that provide coordinated contractions. The rhythm frequency is determined by the sinus node, which transmits the impulse along the conduction pathways and the heart contracts.

Failure of contractions in it causes sinus arrhythmia, which can manifest itself in the form of bradycardia. Secondary nodes produce pulses of lower frequency, but obey the signal of the sinus node. After damage to the main node, secondary nodes replace it, and significant bradycardia occurs. If the signal is created by the last nodes, then such a pathology is incompatible with life.

Heart rhythm disturbances occur in the following cases:

If there are obstacles in the pathways from the sinus node to the terminal node.
When an impulse passes not along the main, but along additional paths.

Causes and possible consequences

The causes of bradycardia in children are determined by various circumstances of their life and the state of the body, among which the following are considered the most common:

Pathologies of the nervous and endocrine systems.
Long-term use and large doses of potent drugs.
Rapid growth of the heart and internal organs.
Increased intracranial pressure.
Consequences of past infectious diseases.
Significant hypothermia of the body.
Organic heart disease, present even in fetal development.
Impaired cerebral circulation.
Nicotine or lead intoxication.
There is a high probability of developing bradycardia in children diagnosed with hypoxia after birth.

The onset of bradycardia in a child may be fright or holding his breath for an excessively long time. Thus, before bedtime, some children experience a decrease in heart rate under the influence of events experienced during the day. Such cases are temporary and do not require medical attention.

If left untreated, bradycardia can have the following consequences:

Constant faintness.
Myocardial exhaustion.
Heart rupture leading to death.

Types of bradycardia

Based on the causes of the disorder and the state of the body, the following types of bradycardia are distinguished:

Sinus bradycardia in children. Develops when there is a disruption in the supply of impulses from the sinus node.
Heterotropic, quite rare in children. It develops when impulses arrive from a focus of excitation that differs from the nomotopic one.

According to one of the existing classifications, bradycardia occurs:

Absolute, when a decrease in heart rate is observed constantly.
Relative, in which the pulse rate is influenced by environmental factors and health status.

The following degrees of the disease are also distinguished:

Mild – appears infrequently, has transparent symptoms, and often goes unnoticed. Its diagnosis is possible only in a laboratory.
Moderate – manifests itself quite clearly, can be treated, but does not lead to significant complications or death.
Severe childhood bradycardia threatens health and life and requires urgent treatment.

Symptoms of bradycardia in children

The disease in childhood manifests itself in the form of the following symptoms:

Fatigue quickly even after minor exertion.
Regular occurrence of fainting conditions.
Dizziness, unstable blood pressure.
Pain in the chest area.
Poor appetite.
Memory impairment.
Pale skin.
Shortness of breath.
Lower heart rate expected at a given age.

With a mild form of the disease, there are no external symptoms, with the exception of a rarer heartbeat. Severe bradycardia is characterized by Morgagni-Edams-Stokes syndrome: following short-term dizziness and paleness, the child faints, respiratory function stops, the heart does not contract, convulsions occur, involuntary defecation and emptying of the bladder.

Heart rate norms in children

Heart rate, or pulse, is an indicator that characterizes hemodynamics and occurs during cardiac cycles and oscillations of arterial walls. The rate of heart rate in children of different ages varies slightly, as the following table shows:

The readings in the table are quite approximate, and small deviations in both directions should not be immediately regarded as a sign of disease. The final diagnosis, taking into account physiological indicators and after the necessary additional studies, is made only by a doctor.

Bradycardia in newborns is diagnosed when the pulse rate is below 100 beats/min, and does not in itself cause circulatory failure. In the neonatal period, the disease can occur with:

The presence of a viral infection (ARVI, hepatitis).
Brain hemorrhages.
Birth injuries.
Cardiac pathologies.
Bilirubin encephalopathy.

At this age, pathology can be observed during apnea or precede it. A pulse rate of up to 70 beats/min indicates a congenital blockade of the conduction system and is a fairly serious prognostic sign.

Diagnosis and treatment

If a child is suspected of having bradycardia, contact a pediatric cardiologist, who analyzes the following data to identify the disease:

The reaction of the brain and blood pressure to a decrease in heart rate (the appearance of fainting, a drop in brain activity, concentration, learning difficulties).
Myocardial condition.
Causes of bradycardia.
General well-being with a decrease in heart rate.
Type and degree of pathology.

Treatment of bradycardia is aimed at identifying and eliminating the cause of the pathological condition. For this purpose, medications are used that correct carbohydrate metabolism, maintain electrolyte balance and eliminate the lack of oxygen in tissues. Moderate bradycardia without concomitant heart diseases makes it possible not to use therapeutic measures, since the body “outgrows” this disorder.

If there is a disease of any organ or system along with bradycardia, this disease is first cured. If the diagnosis reveals severe bradycardia, in which blood flow is impaired, the attending physician prescribes antiarrhythmic drugs. The manifestation of pathology in the form of Adams-Stokes syndrome is treated only by implantation of a pacemaker in the heart.

Preventive measures

Children's bradycardia is prevented in the following ways:

Early diagnosis and treatment of pathologies of internal organs.
Avoiding self-medication and unauthorized dosage of medications.
Regular exercise in moderate sports, excluding grueling workouts.
Prevention of physical inactivity, hardening, active lifestyle.