[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference moira::parenting

Title:	Parenting
Notice:	Previous PARENTING version at MOIRA::PARENTING_V3
Moderator:	GEMEVN::FAIMANY

Created:	Thu Apr 09 1992
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	1292
Total number of notes:	34837

570.0. "High Blood pressure in Children, common?" by SAMDHI::TRIPP () Mon Aug 23 1993 15:10

    Last week during AJ's annual routine physical, his pedi noted some
    concern over him having HIGH blood pressure.  I was a bit baffled, and
    am wondering if anyone else has experienced this in a child?
    
    The pedi seems to be leaning towards a kidney related thing, has
    scheduled a kidney scan and ultrasound of the kidneys for ASAP, in fact
    to be done in the next week or two even though she herself is on
    vacation.  Her reasoning is that because he had so many kidney problems
    as an infant, even had several surgeries to reconstruct his kidneys,
    ureters, and bladder, and urethra, he also had urine reflux for some
    time as an infant as well.
    
    She feels this isnt' cardiac in nature, as it might be in adults.  I
    always associate high blood pressure with increased intercranial
    pressure (pressure in the brain, usually caused by injury or disease),
    but she seems to be "tunneling in" on the kidney thing, has even
    contacted, for me, my son's former urologist, and is setting up the
    referral as we speak.
    
    She mentioned a 24 hour monitor to see if he is higer at some times of
    the day than others.  She also said it could just be some kids run
    higher than others.  There is a family history, my parents both died of
    high blood pressure related diseases, I have borderline HBP, have had
    it since I myself was a youngster.  He is borderline hyperactive, could
    it simply be his activity level?
    
    I have concerns, has anyone else monitored their child's blood
    pressure?
    
    Lyn

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
570.1	Medication?	GAVEL::PCLX31::satow	gavel::satow, dtn 223-2584	`Mon Aug 23 1993 15:17`	6
	Is he taking any medication for which a side effect is high blood pressure? I know, for example, that antihistamines make a significant difference in my blood pressure. Clay
570.2	no medication presently	SAMDHI::TRIPP		`Mon Aug 23 1993 16:20`	12
	at the moment no medication. He has asthma, but currently is taking nothing at all, not even an inhaler. He was doing a steriod and broncho dialater two or three times a day, by inhaler up until the first week of July. The doctor commented that last year's physical she noticed it to be a "little" high, but seemed to express concern this year. I've never asked about hisBP in the past. I only have knowledge of what is within normal limits for an adult, even as an EMT I don't know much about children't BP's.
570.3		NOTIME::SACKS	Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085	`Mon Aug 23 1993 16:55`	3
	Judging from the dire warnings on Azmacort (a steroid inhaler) regarding past use of systemic steroids, I'd guess that steroids affect your system for quite a while -- perhaps months.
570.4	Dirk too but not too serious	GVA05::BETTELS	Cheryl, DTN 821-4022, Management Systems Research	`Tue Aug 24 1993 20:49`	14
	Dirk, who does a lot of athletics, has been measured with high blood pressure for a child. His was 135/90 which is considered high for a (at the time) 14 year old. The temporary pedi that I was seeing and who I didn't like seemed worried about this. In the training he has, they typically measure pulse and blood pressure and signal the parents if there is a problem. I'm taking Markus for a physical tomorrow to get a medical certificate for karate so I will ask about the blood pressure (from my old fashioned standard calm pediatrician who now also sees our grand daughter and is very reliable). Cheryl
570.5	84/52?	STUDIO::KUDLICH	nathan's & morgan's mom!	`Wed Jan 19 1994 12:15`	6
	Nathan's was measured at 84 over 52 this week at his 4 year old; said to be "nice and low". What is normal for kids? This small sample shows it to be alll over the map! Adrienne
570.6	still high-er!	LEDS::TRIPP		`Mon Feb 14 1994 12:07`	15
	re the last, Nathan's seems to be just about normal, from what little this EMT knows. As an update on AJ, his pressure continues to skyrocket, it was even higher than ever last week, rivaling even an adult level of High BP. His general pedi has referred us to a renal specialist. He did have a repeat of the kidney scan last fall, which was "normal if compared to previous scans". I can't understand why everyone is zeroing in on kidney related issues, I just feel there must be something else going on. I will keep all ofyou posted after the apointment next week. Lyn
570.7		CSC32::M_EVANS	hate is STILL not a family value	`Mon Feb 14 1994 12:40`	7
	Lyn, I may be mistaken, but isn't AJ on ritalin? It might be worthwhile to ask the specialist and your family Dr. if this could be contributing to the HBP. Meg
570.8	I don't know where it's coming from	LEDS::TRIPP		`Fri Mar 25 1994 17:40`	20
	Funny you should reply today... I had posted a similar note in MEDICAL, and today brought it up to date, since before the scan last fall. He is seeing a Dr. Premack at Umass in a couple weeks, this doctor is (I guess) a nephrolgist, some flavor of kidney specialist. I questioned why his pedi urologist wouldn't be as educated, why isn't he continuing on. Oh well, I guess specialties, have subspecialties, have subsubspecialties.... Early on I questioned the pedi, the ADHD physician, and the urologist if the Ritalin would have ANY KIND of side effect, specificially citing the High BP, all said independantly that is wouldn't (well they actually said shouldn't) Part of me wants to think that his cardiac area needs to be examined, simply because if adults have high BP it does in some cases reflect a cardiac problem, or even explore if his asthma, and occational difficulty in breathing might be affecting the Blood pressure. I should have gone to medical school....!! Lyn