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Child Fainted, Heart Racing, Had High BP, Previously Complained Of Middle Abdomen Pain. What Is Causing This?
Question: 8 year old girl, normal in weight has passed out was rushed to the hospital ; her heart was beating so fast immediately lifted out to XXXXXXX Palmer Hospital for children; they have found lower half of her heart blood is beating very fast. She is on a blood pressure pill because she has High Blood Pressure; she has complained about middle stomach pains for over 4 months; family ran blood test came up with nothing wrong; these pains would come and go and di she ever sweat. Help!
Hello,
Thank you for your query.
At 8 years of age, there is usually a secondary cause for the high BP. There are many such causes including diseases of the thyroid gland, adrenal diseases, pheochromocytoma, coarctation of aorta, hyperaldosteronism, kidney related diseases, blockage of arteries to kidney, aortoarteritis, other types of vasculitis, etc.
Depending on a complete history and physical examination, she will need further blood and urine tests, ECG, echo, X-ray and other tests to pinpoint the exact cause for her high BP.
If the heart beat was abnormally fast and she has lost consciousness as a result, it is usually due to a tachyarrhythmia like ventricular tachycardia. ECG taken during the tachycardia should reveal the diagnosis immediately. Treatment for such arrhythmias is usually done on an emergency basis and include DC cardioversion/defibrillation, iv drugs like amiodarone, xylocaine, magnesium, bretylium etc (depending on the exact arrhythmia).
If there is any ECG showing the arrhythmia, you can upload it on this site so that I can give you a more specific answer.
Feel free to contact me again with any reports for further clarifications.
With regards,
Dr RS Varma
Thank you for your query.
At 8 years of age, there is usually a secondary cause for the high BP. There are many such causes including diseases of the thyroid gland, adrenal diseases, pheochromocytoma, coarctation of aorta, hyperaldosteronism, kidney related diseases, blockage of arteries to kidney, aortoarteritis, other types of vasculitis, etc.
Depending on a complete history and physical examination, she will need further blood and urine tests, ECG, echo, X-ray and other tests to pinpoint the exact cause for her high BP.
If the heart beat was abnormally fast and she has lost consciousness as a result, it is usually due to a tachyarrhythmia like ventricular tachycardia. ECG taken during the tachycardia should reveal the diagnosis immediately. Treatment for such arrhythmias is usually done on an emergency basis and include DC cardioversion/defibrillation, iv drugs like amiodarone, xylocaine, magnesium, bretylium etc (depending on the exact arrhythmia).
If there is any ECG showing the arrhythmia, you can upload it on this site so that I can give you a more specific answer.
Feel free to contact me again with any reports for further clarifications.
With regards,
Dr RS Varma
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Aparna Kohli
Answered by
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