Blood pressure is the force blood exerts on the vessel walls. Children with hypertension, or high blood pressure, have blood pressure that is equal to or higher than 95 percent of children of the same age, sex and height, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Hypertension in toddlers is rarely caused by the same problems as hypertension in older children, teens and adults.
Considerations
No simple blood pressure reading can indicate high blood pressure in your toddler because a child’s blood pressure rises as he grows. For example, the average newborn blood pressure is about 64/41, but blood pressure should rise to a level of 95/58 between ages 1 month and 2 years, according to MedlinePlus. By the time he is a teenager, a child's blood pressure should rise even further. This is why your pediatrician looks at national norms to help determine whether your toddler’s blood pressure is too high. If your toddler’s blood pressure is high on the first reading, your pediatrician may take three readings and average them out or have your toddler wear a special pressure cuff throughout the day, a method called ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, according to KidsHealth from Nemours. It is possible to have a high reading due to anxiety from being in a doctor’s office.
Causes
High blood pressure in children under 10 years of age is generally caused by an underlying health problem; this is known as secondary hypertension. Heart defects, genetic conditions, kidney disease, adrenal disorders, a certain tumor on the adrenal gland and high levels of the thyroid hormone are examples of potential underlying culprits, according to the Mayo Clinic website.
Signs and Symptoms
Often a toddler with high blood pressure doesn’t have noticeable symptoms. However, she may exhibit signs of the underlying condition. For example, she may breathe rapidly, have a bluish tint to her skin, have trouble gaining weight or growing, or have frequent urinary tract infections, according to MedlinePlus. If your toddler has very high blood pressure, she may be irritable, vomit and have seizures.
Getting Help
Children usually get regular blood pressure readings at doctor’s visits starting at about age 3 unless they already have a known condition – such as premature birth, kidney problems or a congenital heart defect – that increases their risk of high blood pressure. Get medical help as soon as possible if your toddler isn’t regularly getting his blood pressure checked but he shows any signs of high blood pressure. If your toddler’s blood pressure is high, the pediatrician may use X-rays, lab tests and ultrasound technology to get to the root of the problem. The treatment plan depends on the underlying condition.
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