If the child has a rapid heartbeat, this is a serious reason for parents to worry about his condition. Such symptoms can occur for various reasons, for example, after physical exercise or emotional overload, and a similar condition can be associated with infection, fear, or fever. Only a doctor can determine the exact cause of this condition, it is important to establish whether it is tachycardia or the reason lies in something else.
In order to independently monitor the state of your baby, you should remember what values ​​of the heart rate are the norm for a given age.
Heart rate
It is possible to determine that a child has a rapid heartbeat, depending on whether the number of heart beats per minute corresponds to the norm set for his age.
In the first two days of the year it should beat with a frequency of 122 to 158 beats per minute. In the future, the standards should be as follows:
- from three to six days from the moment of birth - 13 - 167 beats per minute;
- from one to three weeks - 106 - 180 beats per minute;
- from one to two months - 120 - 180 beats per minute;
- from three to five months - 105 - 185 beats per minute;
- from six to eleven months - 110 - 170 beats per minute;
- from one to two years - 90 - 150 beats per minute;
- from three to four years - 70 - 140 beats per minute;
- from five to seven years - 65 - 135 beats per minute;
- from 8 to 11 years - 60 - 130 beats per minute;
- from 12 to 15 years - 60 - 120 beats per minute.
Pathological physiology
The supply of the heart with nerves in a child occurs mainly due to the vagus nerve and the sympathetic ganglion. Afferent fibers that are associated with sympathetic ganglia are responsible for the transmission of pain. At the same time, people usually do not notice a rapid heartbeat, paying little attention to this condition. Some patients may complain of ear plugging or noise in the head as early as childhood. This is a serious reason to consult a specialist, find out what is the cause of this problem.
First of all, with a rapid heartbeat in a child, you should be wary of tachycardia. This is a painful condition during which the heart rate rises markedly. This disease is associated with the conductivity of electrical signals, which worsens due to various reasons. In some cases, tachycardia is congenital. Then it can be diagnosed at the stage of pregnancy.
Causes
When a child has rapid breathing and palpitations, it may be tachycardia. Doctors make a similar diagnosis if the heart rate is above the norm by 20 to 30 beats per minute.
It is worth noting that in children, initially, the heart beats much faster than in adults. This is due to the high demand for oxygen and an accelerated metabolism.
Often this can be due to physiological factors, for example, in addition to those already listed, it can be overheating, immaturity of the nervous system, overexcitation, excessive motor activity.
Pathological conditions
Heart palpitations in a child can occur against a background of pathological conditions. These include:
- myocarditis (cardiopathy);
- Congenital heart defect;
- dehydration;
- anemia;
- vegetative-vascular dystonia;
- thyroid pathology;
- pheochromocytoma - adrenal tumors;
- obesity.
Here are the main causes of heart palpitations in children. In a newborn baby, external irritants, for example, swaddling or examination by a doctor, as well as various pathological processes, can provoke a frequent heartbeat. This is anemia, perinatal encephalopathy, respiratory or heart failure, low blood sugar, congenital malformations or acute asphyxiation. That is why heart palpitations in a child can appear even in infancy.
Types of Tachycardia
Tachycardia in minors is divided into two main types. It can be paroxysmal and sinus.
Sinus tachycardia is characterized by increased work of the sinus node. A similar condition occurs in a child as a result of the body's response to stress, physical activity, the use of strong coffee and in some other situations. If a child sometimes complains of a rapid heartbeat, then this is most likely one of these reasons. Tachycardia in such cases is temporary, is not accompanied by any discomfort for the baby. After a fairly short period of time, the heart rate will return to normal as soon as the provoking factor that has a negative effect on the children's body is eliminated.
If, at rest, the child’s rapid heartbeat persists, what parents should do is an urgent decision. This can be caused by heart disease or all kinds of extracardiac factors. The latter include respiratory failure, anemia, and more. It is important that the attack of tachycardia is accompanied by unpleasant sensations, the baby may feel that he is sorely lacking in air.
Paroxysmal tachycardia
Paroxysmal tachycardia is characterized by a sharp increase in cardiac rhythm. At the same time, indicators increase very significantly. The child may experience unpleasant pain in the chest or abdomen, signs of cyanosis, shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness throughout the body. It is important that the attack passes as suddenly as it began. In some children, arrhythmia can occur without any noticeable symptoms. In this case, it will be possible to identify it only during a thorough and detailed medical examination.
Parents need to remember that childhood sinus tachycardia is much more common than paroxysmal.
Arrhythmia is a disease that can persist for many years. In this case, attacks of chronic tachycardia are regularly accompanied by a feeling of suffocation, low blood pressure, nausea, excessive sweating, cramps, chest pain, fainting, and dizziness.
A certain difficulty in the diagnosis lies in the fact that children are often not able to clearly articulate what exactly bothers them, describe their symptoms, and complain to their parents about the deterioration of their condition. In this case, it is necessary to suspect the presence of tachycardia or other similar pathologies. Notice that something is wrong with the child, parents can lose their appetite for the baby, pronounced anxiety, and sleep disturbance.
In this case, you should carefully examine the child, measure his heart rate, and if necessary, seek the help of a doctor.
First aid
If a child develops an attack of tachycardia, an ambulance team should be called immediately. Until the doctors arrive, there are several ways to alleviate the baby’s condition.
Free his neck and chest from tight clothing, provide the patient with a sufficient supply of fresh air, and put a damp cloth or scarf on his forehead.
Diagnostics
To diagnose the patient’s condition, the doctor, first of all, conducts a survey of the minor and his parents to find out all the complaints that concern him. After this, an initial inspection is carried out.
Often, additional examinations should be performed to make an accurate diagnosis. This is a urinalysis, biochemical and general blood test, echocardiography, electrocardiogram.
Treatment methods
The doctor determines the treatment methods, based on the general condition of the patient, the causes of tachycardia and its types. Depending on these factors, this can be medical therapy, physiotherapy exercises, adherence to sleep patterns, and diet. Directly during the attack, valgus techniques can be used, for example, blowing the auditory tubes according to the Vasiliev method.
In exceptional cases, the cause of heart rate in a minor may be an organic heart disease. A very common option is the appearance of additional routes. In this case, surgical intervention is required.
Requirements and Recommendations
In order for the baby’s treatment to be as productive and effective as possible, adults must adhere to all the medical recommendations received, as well as arrange for the young patient the right diet and the corresponding daily regimen.
From the diet of the patient, coffee, tea, spicy and salty foods, products containing cocoa are mandatory excluded. Nutrition should be rich in fiber, complete, saturated with light carbohydrates. Particular attention should be paid to protein food - its amount should be limited.
In some cases, parents can use traditional medicine to combat arrhythmia. Such methods should be addressed only if the disease does not have a functional origin. In addition, you should definitely consult with your doctor.
Fever
Particular attention should be paid if there is a rapid heartbeat in a child at a temperature. As a rule, this can be considered a natural reaction of the body to the disease. In this case, such a condition will not be considered a pathology. It will go along with healing.
Body temperature traditionally rises to expel viruses and germs. In this case, the conditions for them become as unfavorable as possible.
High temperature and heart palpitations in a child in this case indicate that the body is fighting the disease. In such a situation, the immune system begins to work, as in combat mode. Not only does the heart rate increase, but the blood flow also accelerates, since the task of expelling foreign elements from body tissues appears. The heart rate and pulse increase in the most natural way. So do not be surprised at the heart rate in a child at a temperature.
After you carry out the appropriate procedures aimed at lowering the temperature, the heat will begin to subside. Only if the tachycardia does not begin to pass, it can be said that the body is not able to cope with viruses on its own. Then we are talking about hidden pathology.
Vomiting
In some cases, the child appears vomiting and heart palpitations. When such symptoms appear, first of all, the probability of an exacerbation of a chronic disease in a minor should be excluded.
The reasons for this condition can be quite a lot, we list their main ones.
- Intestinal infections - dysentery, rotavirus infection, salmonellosis.
- Poisoning - food or received as a result of taking medications, carbon monoxide, chemicals, drugs, alcohol.
- Allergic reactions to foods or drugs.
- The primary signs of acute inflammation of the organs of appendicitis and epigastrium.
- Infectious diseases - meningitis, pneumonia, encephalitis.
- Traumatic brain injury or impaired central nervous system.
- Acetonemic crisis.
- Heat or sunstroke.
- Dysbacteriosis
Increase acetone
The rapid deterioration of the child's condition can be caused by acetonemic intoxication. In this case, there is a rapid heartbeat in a child of 5 years or another age. You can also determine the pathological condition of the baby by some other signs. We list the main ones in this article, since the disease is very dangerous, you should know exactly about its symptoms in order to recognize and immediately seek qualified medical help.
In a minor, an increase in the level of acetone in the body can be determined by the following symptoms:
- Heart palpitations.
- Abdominal pain in the form of spasms.
- Strong and sharp vomiting, repeated many times.
- Weakness, nausea, pallor of the skin.
- A pungent odor of acetone in urine, vomit and breathing.
- Dehydration
- Fever.
- Inhibition of movements, convulsions, photophobia, loss of consciousness.
If the child has acetone in the urine, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. During the treatment period, alkaline drinking, a special diet, and restoration of the normal glucose level in the child's body are recommended.