What is arrhythmias in children?

Some children don't have symptoms from an abnormal heartbeat.

But an arrhythmia can cause many symptoms. Your child may:

• Feel weak or tired.
• Feel lightheaded or dizzy.
• Feel their heart beat fast or skip a beat.
• Act cranky (in babies).
• Have chest pain.
• Pass out.

Treatment depends on the type of arrhythmia. You may take medicines that slow your heart rate or stop the arrhythmia. Procedures such as cardioversion and catheter ablation may be done. Other options include a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). A pacemaker helps your heart beat normally. An ICD can stop a dangerous arrhythmia.

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and past health and will do a physical exam. You will have an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG). This test checks for problems with the heart's electrical activity. You may also have other tests to check the health of your heart.

If your child takes medicines, give them exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if your child is having a problem with medicines. Ask your doctor before giving your child over-the-counter medicines such as decongestants. Follow any other instructions, such as limiting your child's activity or keeping a diary of your child's symptoms.

Some heart rhythm problems don't need treatment. Your doctor may watch your child over time to make sure that your child is doing well.

For more serious rhythm problems, treatment may include:

Medicines.

Certain medicines can slow down the heart if it's beating too fast. Other medicines can prevent an abnormal heartbeat from happening.

A pacemaker.

A pacemaker is a device that's placed under the skin and connected to the heart. It sends painless signals to help the heart beat normally.

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).

Like a pacemaker, an ICD is a device that's placed under the skin and connected to the heart. It uses electrical signals or a shock to stop a deadly heart rhythm.

Cardioversion.

This procedure uses a shock to help return the heart to a normal rhythm.

Catheter ablation.

A doctor puts thin tubes called catheters through a blood vessel and into the heart. Wires in the catheters use energy to destroy tiny areas of the heart that cause the abnormal heartbeat.

Surgery.

Sometimes surgery may be done. Heart tissue might be cut to try to stop the signals that cause the abnormal heartbeat.

An arrhythmia, or abnormal heartbeat, is a change in the normal rhythm of the heart. Your child's heart may beat too fast or too slow. Or it may beat with an irregular or skipping rhythm.

The heart has an electrical system that creates signals to make the heart pump. When something affects those signals, an abnormal heartbeat can occur. Some types of arrhythmias aren't a problem. But others are more serious and may need treatment.