Arrhythmias

What is an arrhythmia?

An arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. When a child has an arrhythmia, their heart may beat too quickly, too slowly, or in an irregular pattern. There are many types of arrhythmias in children. Some types are harmless, while others can be very serious or even life threatening.

Common types of pediatric heart arrhythmias include:

• Sinus tachycardia: a normal rise in the heart rate that commonly occurs in children and usually does not need to be treated. It can happen from a fever, exercise or excitement.
• Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT): the most common type of fast heartbeat in children. These arrhythmias start in the upper chambers of the heart.
• Long QT syndrome: this occurs when the heart’s lower chambers take too long to relax after contracting. This causes fast, erratic heartbeats
• Ventricular tachycardia: a type of fast heart rate that starts in the lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart. It is not a common condition, but it can be dangerous.
• Bradycardia: a heartbeat that is slower than normal.
• Sick sinus syndrome: this condition occurs when the heart doesn’t fire correctly, and the heart may pause or beat faster or slower than normal. This condition is rare in children.
• Heart block: this occurs when there is a problem with the electrical signals passing from the upper chambers to the bottom chambers, causing a slow heartbeat.

What are the signs and symptoms of arrhythmias?

Children with arrhythmias can have a variety of symptoms depending on the type of arrhythmia they have. Some children may have no symptoms. For those who do have symptoms, they may include:

• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Trouble feeding
• Heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness or tiredness

What causes arrhythmias?

Arrhythmias in children can have many different causes. These may include:

• Genetics
• Cardiomyopathy, when the heart muscle is stiff or thick
• Congenital heart disease
• Certain medications
• Electrolyte imbalance
• Fever or dehydration
• Infection

How are arrhythmias treated?

Some children with arrhythmias may not need any treatment. In some cases, your child’s doctor may watch their condition over time. When treatment is needed, it will depend on the type of arrhythmia your child has and its severity. Your care team at Arkansas Children’s is experienced in treating all types of abnormal heartbeats in children and will work with you to determine the best course of treatment for your child. Some options may include:

• Medicines: Your child may prescribe medicines to treat an underlying condition, such as an infection or electrolyte imbalance, or to help regulate the heartbeat.
• Ablation: This is a procedure that heats or freezes the area where the arrhythmia starts.
• Pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator: These small devices are implanted under the skin to correct an irregular heart rhythm.
• Surgery: If your child’s condition doesn’t get better with other treatment, your doctor may recommend surgery to stop irregular heart signals.