Medical knowledge, Patient Education
Bradycardia, Pediatric
Bradycardia is a slower-than-normal heartbeat. Bradycardia can prevent enough oxygen from reaching certain areas of your child’s body when he or she is active. It can be serious if it keeps enough oxygen from reaching your child’s brain and other parts of your child’s body.
What are the causes?
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A problem with the heart’s electrical system, such as a heart block. With a heart block, electrical signals between the chambers of the heart are partially or completely blocked, so they are not able to work as they should.
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Heart conditions that are present at birth (congenital heart defects).
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Heart infections like endocarditis and myocarditis.
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Lyme disease.
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Surgery to repair a heart condition.
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An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).
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A condition in which the adrenal glands do not function the way they should (adrenal insufficiency).
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Being born early (prematurely).
What increases the risk?
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Were born prematurely.
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Have a congenital heart defect.
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Have had heart surgery.
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Have hypothyroidism.
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Have adrenal insufficiency.
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Take certain medicines.
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Have heart disease, damage, or infection.
What are the signs or symptoms?
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Weakness.
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Lack of energy (lethargy).
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Dizziness.
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Feeling faint.
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Light-headedness.
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Problems exercising.
How is this diagnosed?
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Your child’s symptoms.
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Your child’s medical history.
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A physical exam.
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An electrocardiogram (ECG). This test records the heart’s electrical activity. The test can show how fast your child’s heart is beating and whether the heartbeat is steady.
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A test in which your child wears a portable device (event recorder or Holter monitor) to record the heart’s electrical activity while your child goes about her or his day. This test may be done if your child’s symptoms come and go. Your child may need to wear the monitor for 24–48 hours.
How is this treated?
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Treatment of the underlying condition.
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Medicines.
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Having a small, battery-operated device called a pacemaker implanted under the skin. When bradycardia occurs, this device can be used to increase your child’s heart rate and help his or her heart beat in a regular rhythm.
Follow these instructions at home:
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Learn how to check your child’s heart rate. You can do this by feeling for a pulse or listening to your child’s heart with a stethoscope and counting the number of beats in one minute.
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Give your child over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s health care provider.
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Keep all follow-up visits. This is important because medicines or treatments may need to be adjusted as your child grows.
How is this prevented?
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Treating underlying medical problems.
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Stopping behaviors or medicines that can trigger the condition.
Contact a health care provider if:
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Your child’s symptoms do not improve.
Get help right away if:
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Your child’s symptoms get worse.
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Your child faints or loses consciousness.
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Your child has trouble breathing.
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Your child becomes confused.
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Your child has cool, pale, or sweaty skin.
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Your child has sudden nausea or vomiting.
These symptoms may represent a serious problem that is an emergency. Do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away. Get medical help right away. Call your local emergency services (911 in the U.S.).
Summary
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Bradycardia is a slower-than-normal heartbeat. It can be serious if it keeps enough oxygen from reaching your child’s brain and other parts of your child’s body.
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Treatment for this condition depends on the cause of the condition.
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Learn how to check your child’s heart rate.
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Get help right away if your child’s symptoms get worse.
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Keep all follow-up visits. This is important.
This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.
