What Does Irregular Heart Beat In A Child Suggest?

Posted on Tue, 14 Apr 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 14 Apr 2015 Answered on

Tue, 5 May 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : hi whaat woud u do if kid has irreg heart beat on exam?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (33 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Depends on the type of irregularity and associated symptoms

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for the query

Irregular heart beat is also called arrhythmia. There is a normal range of heart rate for each age group and heart beats in a regular rhythm.
So irregularity may be in the form of rate [bradycardia(decreased heart rate) or tachycardia(increased heart rate)] or rhythm.
The irregular heart beat may be just an incidental finding in a normal healthy kid or it may associated with some symptoms like abnormal feeling of heart beat,sweating,dizziness,chest pain,breathing difficulty or loss of consciousness.
The management depends on the type of arrhythmia and whether it is associated with any symptoms or not.
The type of arrhythmia is evaluated by clinical examination and electrocardiogram.There can be various causes of irregular heart beat like electrolyte disbalance,medications,congenital or acquired heart defects,some hormonal abnormality and many others.As there may be a battery of test for evaluation of the cause,the need of investigation depends on the clinical history and examination.The treatment also depend on the type of arrhythmia,underlying cause and associated symptoms.
You can ask me further questions and I shall be glad to solve them.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (33 minutes later)

pain and dizzyness are symtpoms

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Get him evaluated by physician and get an EKG done

Detailed Answer:
Welcome again

I would like to get him clinically evaluated by a pediatrician and get an EKG done to see the type of arrhythmia. He may also need to get serum electrolytes(as this is one of the common cause) along with an echocardiography done to rule out the congenital or acquired causes.

Depending on the type of arrhythmia he may need medications to control the arrhythmia.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (19 minutes later)

If he was your patient and you see excitablity what would u do

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please upload the image of EKG.if it has been done

Detailed Answer:
It is very difficult to comment without knowing the type of arrhythmia, as the management is very specific and depends on the type of arrhythmia(whether the excitability is getting originated from atria or ventricle) and its severity.
I request you to upload the image of the EKG if it has been done earlier,so that I better able to help you out.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj