Measuring blood pressure in children
Blood pressure (BP) measurement and the diagnosis of hypertension (HTN) in children are critical issues. Indeed, there is a noticeable increase in the incidence of HTN among children and adolescents. This condition can indicate an underlying pathology, most often renal or renovascular, sometimes cardiac or endocrine, and can have severe consequences. Investigating a secondary cause must always be systematic. Since hypertension is usually asymptomatic, routine measurements are necessary to identify it. Blood pressure should be measured at least annually in all children over the age of 3, and earlier if there are risk factors for HTN.
Unlike in adults, BP norms in children vary by sex, age, and height until the age of 13, which complicates the diagnosis of HTN. This tool allows practitioners to input a child’s information and obtain an interpretation based on the most recent BP norm tables published in 2017 by the American Academy of Pediatrics (normal BP, elevated BP, stage 1 HTN, stage 2 HTN), along with brief guidance according to current recommendations.
These recommendations are summarized in the Step-by-Step Guide to the Discovery of Hypertension in Children, validated by the Société Française de Pédiatrie and the Société Française de Néphrologie Pédiatrique.