![]() The normal auscultatory method can be carried out over the age of 3 years but is more difficult in younger children, in whom sedation may be necessary. ![]() The American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children have their BPs checked regularly from 3 years old onwards. In infants and young children, systemic hypertension is uncommon, but when present, it is usually indicative of an underlying disease. The prevalence of hypertension increases progressively with increasing body mass index (BMI) some studies have detected hypertension in over 30% of obese children (BMI >95th percentile) Primary hypertension in childhood is being increasingly recognised, is found to cluster in families and is associated with obesity. The prevalence of hypertension in childhood is probably between 1% and 3%, but the majority of children will have mild increases in BP and can be regarded as having primary (essential) hypertension. BP varies with age, height and sex, progressively increasing from infants to adolescents. However, measurement of BP in children merely requires patience, practice and an appropriate cuff size of 3 - 13 cm wide. There is a lack of awareness of hypertension in children, with a common belief that measurement of BP in infants and children is difficult and time consuming, with results usually normal. ![]() The most obvious statement about children's BP is that it is not taken seriously. The blood pressure values obtained in this study were similar to published values in the literature.īlood pressure (BP) measurement is a necessary part of the physical examination of children. The values found in this study were similar to those in the literature.ĬONCLUSION: The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures of the age group studied were 91.3 (8.9) mmHg and 59.0 (9.0) mmHg. No gender difference was found, but age, height and weight all correlated positively with blood pressure. Blood pressure ranged from 70/40 to 120/90, with mean (standard deviation) systolic values for pupils aged 3 years 87.5 (8.3) mmHg, aged 4 years 93.5 (8.5) mmHg and aged 5 years 93.5 (8.4) mmHg, and mean diastolic values for pupils aged 3 years 55.1 (9.1) mmHg, aged 4 years 61.2 (8.3) mmHg and aged 5 years 61.5 (7.8) mmHg. Their blood pressure, height and weight were measured and their BMI calculated. METHODS: A total of 603 apparently healthy nursery school children aged 3 - 5 years were randomly recruited from three nursery schools: two in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, and one in Asaba, Delta State. OBJECTIVES: To determine the blood pressure profile in children aged 3 - 5 years, establish the relationship between their blood pressure and age, body mass index (BMI), height, weight and gender, and compare the results with available values. Most of the studies done in Nigeria so far on blood pressure and hypertension are in older children. VMBBS Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, NigeriaīACKGROUND: Blood pressure measurement is not commonly done in children. IVMBBS, FMCPH Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria/University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Nigeria IIIMBBS, FMCPaed Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria/University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Nigeria IIMBBS, FWACP Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Nigeria IMBBS, FWACP Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria P N C Manyike I C O Okike II J M Chinawa III I E Obi IV U C Ukoh V Blood pressure profile in children aged 3 - 5 years: Relationship to age, weight, height, gender and body mass index
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