It is a type of rapid heart rhythm that occurs in the upper part of the heart, above the ventricles. When it occurs in children, the heart rate is over 180 bpm (over 220 beats per minute in infants).
It can be caused by many things, the main ones being: structural changes in the heart, electrical conduction abnormalities, drugs, ionic changes and other diseases.
It usually comes on suddenly in the form of episodes that can last from a few minutes to hours. The main symptoms are palpitations, restlessness and a fast heartbeat. It may be accompanied by chest pain in the form of tightness, shortness of breath or sudden loss of consciousness.
It is diagnosed clinically and confirmed by recording the arrhythmia on an electrocardiogram.
If the child is stable, with few symptoms that are well tolerated, they may not need any treatment at all. However, if the arrhythmia causes cardiovascular collapse, treatment will involve electrical cardioversion (reversal of the arrhythmia using electrical shocks).
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