Recently, in a school in Mayur Vihar, Delhi, a nine-year-old girl of class three fell down while standing in front of the class teacher. The hospital declared him dead. According to reports, the girl had suffered a cardiac arrest. This is not the first case in children. Even before this, such news has come from Lucknow, Indore and Karnataka, hence many parents are scared. But instead of being afraid, parents need to be aware. So let us know in this article-
Difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest
Parents are also scared because the incidence of heart attack in children is really shocking. But often people consider both heart attack and cardiac arrest as one. Heart attack occurs when there is a blockage in the vein that supplies blood to the heart. According to pediatric cardiologists at Lurie Children’s Hospital of America, heart attacks are very rare in children.
At the same time, in cardiac arrest, the heartbeat suddenly gets disturbed and it stops pumping blood. The child falls unconscious and is unable to breathe properly. These are most of the sudden incidents that happen in children.
Why does cardiac arrest happen in children?
In most of the cases, the reason is some kind of heart disease which is present from birth and is never caught earlier. These include abnormal thickening of the heart muscle (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), congenital heart disease, and heart rhythm disorders such as long QT syndrome. Some of these diseases run in families. Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) after a viral infection can also be a reason.
How common is it in children?
It is very rare in children. According to a medical review based on US data, every year about 0.6 to 6.2 children out of every 100,000 die suddenly due to heart disease. However, there is no national data available in India.
What signs should parents pay immediate attention to?
According to America’s Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, in about half of the cases, some signs are already visible, which are often ignored-
- Fainting while playing or running, or fainting repeatedly without any reason.
- Chest pain, dizziness, or very fast heartbeat during exercise.
- Seizures during or immediately after running or playing.
- Unusual shortness of breath or fatigue while playing, which is not due to asthma.
If someone in the family has died suddenly without any reason before the age of 50, someone experiences frequent fainting, or someone has a heart disease like cardiomyopathy, long QT, then the child may also be at increased risk. In such cases, talk to the pediatrician.
Is the Covid vaccine responsible?
There is a belief among the common people that the Covid vaccine is responsible for cardiac arrest. However, based on a study conducted from May 2023 to April 2024 at AIIMS, no statistical association was found between the Covid vaccine and sudden death. Also, this study was on adults, not children.
If a child suddenly falls
If CPR and AED (a machine that shocks the heart and restores heartbeat) are used within two to three minutes, blood flow to the brain can be saved.
If the child falls, does not respond to calls and is not breathing properly, then immediately call 112 or get someone to do it.
If you know CPR, start right away. At the same time, if there is an AED nearby, then get it called for. The machine itself tells what to do.
Every parent and teacher must learn CPR. Many hospitals and Indian Red Cross Society provide training in this.
FAQ
Are heart attacks and cardiac arrest the same thing in children?
No, heart attack is caused due to blockage in veins which is extremely rare in children, whereas cardiac arrest is a condition where the heart stops beating suddenly which can happen in children.
What are the symptoms of cardiac arrest in children?
Its main symptoms are sudden fainting while playing, severe chest pain during exercise, extreme dizziness and rapid breathing without any reason.
What should be done if the child suddenly falls and is not breathing?
Immediately call the emergency number 112 and start CPR immediately if possible.
Is Covid vaccine responsible for cardiac arrest in children?
According to medical studies and AIIMS reports, no statistical association has been found between the Covid vaccine and sudden deaths.