2021 Volume 34 Issue 1 Pages 13-19
Hypertension in children is usually detected incidentally during physical examinations. However, symptoms often found in pediatric general practice, i.e. fatigue and nausea can be caused by hypertension. Therefore, blood pressure should be taken during routine medical care as often as possible. Blood pressure measurement should be repeated using a manchette appropriate for the body size, and if hypertension is observed, measurements should be taken three times in a state of ease. It is important to note that different gender, age and stature groups have different standards for blood pressure. If the patient is two years old or younger and has severe hypertension, possibility of secondary hypertension should be considered. Since majority of secondary hypertension is caused by renal parenchymal hypertension, screening for renal disease should be performed first. In essential hypertension, non-pharmacological treatment should be initiated immediately to prevent progression to adult essential hypertension. In the case of secondary hypertension, the causative disease should be diagnosed and treated. In both essential and secondary hypertension, it is necessary to lower blood pressure to normal range, improve symptoms caused by hypertension and prevent target organ damage.
