What Are the Causes of Hypertension in Pediatrics?

While hypertension is more common in adulthood, hypertension can also affect children. Childhood hypertension may result as a consequence of obesity or it may occur as a symptom of underlying health conditions.

Significance

• According to the Boston Children's Hospital, hypertension is not only an adult condition. For some, hypertension begins in childhood. The prevalence of childhood hypertension typically increases as the prevalence of childhood obesity increases.

Types

• Childhood hypertension may occur as the result of excess weight and is more likely to occur if there is a family history of hypertension. However, hypertension may also occur as a result of underlying health conditions such as endocrine system problems, kidney diseases and abnormalities of the blood vessels. According to the Boston Children's Hospital, about 10 percent of those children who have hypertension as a result of underlying health conditions, have malfunctioning kidney veins and arteries.

Identification

• Physicians analyze a child's blood pressure readings using tables designed by the National High Blood Pressure Education Program. Children are considered to have high blood pressure if their blood pressure reading is greater than 90 percent of the average blood pressure of other children of the same sex and age.

Treatment

• Hypertension in children may be treated with diet and exercise if the cause of the hypertension is linked to obesity and eating habits. If hypertension occurs as the result of underlying health conditions, treatment will focus on treating the underlying health conditions. Blood-pressure-lowering medications may be used if necessary. According to the Philadelphia Children's Hospital, medications are only needed in about 1 percent of all cases of childhood hypertension.

Considerations

• According to the American Heart Association, children over the age of 3 years old should have their blood pressure checked yearly.