Arterial hypertension in children from 10 to 14 years

Abstract

Hypertension is one of the most important causes of mortality and morbidity in many countries, that why, it is considered to be a world health problem. One thousand two hundred and fifty children from the municipality of Ranchuelo and aged between 10 and 14 years were analyzed from January 2001 to December 2002, searching for hypertensive individuals and those at risk of presenting the illness. They were classified as healthy, at risk and hypertensive, once their blood pressure was measured . The results were compared with the charts of blood pressure to age, height and weight. A detail anamnesis was made, to look for clinical manifestations in hypertensive and at risk children, and laboratory tests were also practiced to them. Seventy-eight children were found to be at risk for hypertension (6.2%) and twenty-four were classified as hypertensive. The group was aged between 10 and 13 years with a female predominance. Familial histories of the affected children, confirm the importance of inheritance in this entity. Our patients were mostly asymptomatic without systemic repercussion. Results were recommended to be informed to the statistical department and family physicians were asked to make similar studies, and to develop health actions to prevent and control systemic hypertension during childhood.