An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm, or a change from the heart's regular electrical impulse. Arrhythmias can cause the heart to beat too quickly (tachycardia), too slowly (bradycardia) or irregularly. As a result, the heart may not effectively pump blood to vital organs. Cardiologists at Comer Children's Hospital are experts in diagnosing and treating heart rhythm disorders in children of all ages. As part of our comprehensive approach, we work with each family to help them understand the signs and symptoms of arrhythmias and to determine the best treatment for their child.
Signs & Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of arrhythmias in young children include irritability or lack of interest in eating. Older children and teenagers may complain of abnormal beating of their heart (know as palpitations), or feeling tired, weak, or lightheaded. Other signs and symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Heart palpitations
- Poor feeding (in infants)
Congenital heart disease or other cardiac disorders may cause arrhythmias. Heart rhythm disorders may also occur when a child has a fever, or as a result of certain medications.
Diagnosing Childhood Heart Rhythm Disorders
Our physicians will start by taking a medical history and performing a physical exam. We may also some of the following tests:
Electrocardiogram (EKG), which uses electrodes to measure the electrical activity of the heart.
Holter monitor or event recorder, which allows longer periods of heart rhythm monitoring, without keeping a child in the hospital or disturbing their usual activities.
Electrophysiology study (EPS), in which a catheter (small, flexible tube) is inserted into a blood vessel to determine the origin of an arrhythmia.
Tilt table test, which shows how a patient's heart rate and blood pressure respond to a change in position (e.g. lying down versus standing up). This test often is used for children with syncope, or frequent fainting.
Treating Arrhythmias in Children
Many types of arrhythmias in children are temporary and do not require treatment. In some cases, however, treatment is required. Options include:
Medication often is the first step. Medications are non-invasive treatments and can be tailored to patients to avoid side effects. Medications can control abnormal heart rhythms and, in many cases, allow the body to slowly fix the cause of the abnormal heart rhythm over time. However, in other cases, stopping the medication will allow the heart rhythm problems to return. In these cases, the use of medication as a treatment would mean life-long medications.
Ablation therapy can be a permanent fix of an abnormal heart rhythm that can give most patients a lifetime without heart rhythm medications. An ablation is when the abnormal cells in the heart that are causing the arrhythmia are identified and energy is delivered to these cells to stop their ability to cause these abnormal heart rhythms. This procedure is done through a cardiac catheterization, without opening a child’s chest. It typically allows patients to go home the same day, or the morning after their procedure. However, since it is an invasive procedure, very small children may not be candidates for ablation therapy.
Pacemakers are small implantable machines that help regulate a child's heart rhythm. Pacemakers work by monitoring the heart rhythm to detect when the heart “skips” beats, and can give its own signal for the heart to beat. Defibrillators are similar to pacemakers, but they detect when the heart is having a life-threatening arrhythmia and deliver a “shock” to the heart to stop the abnormal rhythm. Your child's physician will discuss options based on the severity of the condition, your child's age, health history and other factors.
Request an Appointment
You can also schedule an appointment instantly for in-person and video visits through our online scheduling portal.
The information you provide will enable us to assist you as efficiently as possible. A representative will contact you within one to two business days to help you schedule an appointment.
You can also make an appointment with our providers by:
– Scheduling a virtual video visit to see a provider from the comfort of your home
– Requesting an online second opinion from our specialists
To speak to someone directly, please call 1-888-824-0200. If you have symptoms of an urgent nature, please call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.
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