Bradycardia is a benign cardiac arrhythmia in which the child's heart beats with normal electrical conduction, regularly, but slower than would be normal for its age. The range of normality varies according to age, so bradycardia is established in: newborn to 3 years: <100 beats per minute (bpm), from 3 to 9 years: <60 bpm, from 9 to 16 years: <50 bpm.
The most common causes are: slowing during sleep, regular sport or taking medication.
In healthy children it may be a finding during a medical check-up, without symptoms. In other cases, the slowing of the heartbeat may be the only manifestation of a disease that causes oxygen depletion in the blood.
It is diagnosed after a physical examination and electrocardiogram.
Treatment is aimed at correcting the cause; if it is due to medication, it should be considered whether to continue with it or to change it for another one.
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