Causes of cardiac arrest and children infants include?
Causes of Cardiac Arrest in Infants and Children:
1. Congenital Heart Defects: These are structural abnormalities of the heart that occur before birth. Children born with complex or severe heart defects are at higher risk of cardiac arrest.
2. Arrhythmias: These are abnormal heart rhythms, including supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), ventricular fibrillation (VF), and ventricular tachycardia (VT). Arrhythmias can disrupt normal blood flow and lead to sudden cardiac arrest.
3. Myocarditis: This is a condition characterized by inflammation of the heart muscle. It is often caused by viral infections and can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.
4. Long QT Syndrome: This is an inherited heart condition characterized by a prolonged QT interval on an electrocardiogram (ECG). It can cause lethal ventricular arrhythmias.
5. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): SIDS is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than one year of age. The exact cause of SIDS is not fully understood, but some theories suggest it could be related to cardiac arrhythmias or defects in the brain's control of breathing.
6. Anoxia: This is a condition where there is a lack of oxygen supply to the body's tissues, including the heart. Anoxia can occur due to drowning, strangulation, choking, or other accidents or incidents that compromise breathing or blood circulation.
7. Medications: Certain medications, such as certain over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, can pose risks of causing cardiac arrhythmias in children, leading to cardiac arrest if unsupervised or misused.
8. Electrocution: Accidental electrocution can lead to sudden cardiac arrest by interfering with the heart's electrical conduction system.
It's important for parents and caregivers of infants and children to be aware of these potential causes and take necessary safety precautions to reduce the risk of cardiac arrest. Regular check-ups with a healthcare professional and monitoring for any signs or symptoms of heart conditions are also crucial.