Irregular Heartbeat In Children: Causes And Explanations

Arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, is a common condition diagnosed in cardiology. There are several ways to detect arrhythmia, such as checking your own pulse. In a healthy individual, the pulse rhythm is usually very regular. However, if the pulse feels inconsistent or erratic, it may be a sign of an irregular heartbeat.

What Causes Arrhythmia In Children?

When children experience heart rhythm issues, doctors typically use a series of diagnostic tools to determine the underlying cause. One of the most common causes of arrhythmia in children is myocarditis—an inflammation of the heart muscle. This condition can lead to premature contractions in the atria (atrial premature beats) or ventricles (ventricular premature beats), causing the heart to beat unusually fast. In other cases, such as atrioventricular block, the heart rate may become significantly slower.

Functional vs. Structural Causes

It's important to note that some children may experience temporary arrhythmias due to incomplete development of the vagus nerve, which plays a role in regulating heart rate. These cases are often functional rather than structural, meaning they are not caused by physical defects in the heart but rather by how the nervous system interacts with it. In many cases, these rhythm disturbances resolve on their own as the child matures.

Types Of Arrhythmia In Children

Arrhythmias can be categorized into different types based on where in the heart they occur and how they affect the rhythm. For example, atrial premature contractions (APCs) and ventricular premature contractions (VPCs) involve early beats originating from the upper or lower chambers of the heart, respectively.

Some children may experience episodes of rapid heartbeat, such as atrial tachycardia or supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), which start suddenly and may also stop on their own. In more rare cases, children may develop atrial fibrillation—a condition where the heart beats in a highly disorganized and irregular pattern.

On the other hand, some arrhythmias cause the heart to beat too slowly. Atrioventricular block, for instance, occurs when the electrical signals from the atria fail to reach the ventricles properly, leading to missed or skipped heartbeats and a slower overall rhythm.