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Atrial fibrillation, commonly referred to as afib, in kids, is rare. However, when atrial fibrillation, a type of arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat, does occur in children, it can be deadly if not correctly recognized and treated by trained and certified professionals.

Whether you’re already certified in pediatric advanced life support (PALS), or you’re new to the emergency medical care field, here are three facts any healthcare professional or first responder should know about atrial fibrillation in children.

It may be difficult to spot afib in kids

While the symptoms of atrial fibrillation in children are similar to those in adults, children may have difficulty describing what they are experiencing, and in many cases, they may not experience symptoms at all. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), symptoms that children may display include:

• Shortness of breath.
• Pounding, pain or pressure in the chest.
• Weakness, fatigue or tiring easily with exercise.
• Fainting or lightheadedness.

Prompt treatment is essential

Regardless of the type of arrhythmia a child experiences, early intervention and quick treatment may prevent serious damage to organs and death. While atrial fibrillation is rare in children, more common arrythmias in the pediatric population include bradyarrhythmia (the heart rhythm is too slow) and tachyarrhythmia (the heart rhythm is too fast),

The most common type of pre-cardiac-arrest rhythm seen in the pediatric population is bradyarrhythmia. This type of irregular heartbeat is typically associated with low ventilation. When treating a patient with bradyarrhythmia, emergency caregivers should first take measures to ensure that the patient is breathing properly, taking care to provide supplemental oxygen and ventilation as needed. First responders and heathcare professionals can learn this skills set and others in online PALS certification classes.

Irregular heartbeat varies by age

According to the AHA, normal heart rates vary based on the age of the child. While a heart rate of 140 beats per minute is normal for an infant, 70 beats per minute is considered typical for an older child. The following are healthy heart beat ranges for children at different ages:

• Infant (<1 year old): 100 – 160 beats per minute
• Toddler (ages 1-2): 90 – 150 beats per minute
• Preschooler (ages 3-5): 80 – 140 beats per minute
• School-age (ages 6-12): 70 – 120 beats per minute
• Adolescent (ages 13-18): 60 – 100 beats per minute

Atrial fibrillation in children is treatable

While medication is commonly used to return a child’s heart to a healthy rhythm, cardioversion (electric shock) can be used if pharmaceuticals prove ineffective. In rare cases, catheter ablation (the insertion of a small, flexible catheter into the heart to remove arrhythmia-causing tissue) can be used.

About Health Ed Solutions

Health Ed Solutions arms healthcare professionals and first responders with the knowledge and skills to provide emergency care for multiple types of arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation in children. The certification provider’s online PALS certification and recertification courses are a convenient option for busy professionals with nontraditional schedules. For more information, view the PALS online course details.