BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuHigh blood pressure in infantsHypertension - infantsHigh blood pressure (hypertension) is an increase in the force of blood against the arteries in the body. This article focuses on high blood pressure in infants. Causes Blood pressure measures how hard the heart is working, and how healthy the arteries are. There are two numbers in each blood pressure measurement:The first (top) number is the systolic blood pressure, which measures the force of blood released when the heart beats. The second (bottom) number is the diastolic pressure, which measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest. Blood pressure measurements are written this way: 120/80. One or both of these numbers can be too high.Several factors affect blood pressure, including:Hormones The health of the heart and blood vessels The health of the kidneys High blood pressure in infants may be due to kidney or heart disease that is present at birth (congenital). Common examples include:Coarctation of the aorta (narrowing of the large blood vessel of the heart called the aorta) Coarctation of the aortaThe aorta is a larger artery that carries blood from the heart to the vessels that supply the rest of the body with blood. If part of the aorta is n...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Patent ductus arteriosus (blood vessel between the aorta and pulmonary artery that should close after birth, but remains open) Patent ductus arteriosusPatent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a condition in which the ductus arteriosus does not close. The word "patent" means open. The ductus arteriosus is ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (lung condition that affects newborn babies who were either put on a breathing machine after birth or were born very early) Bronchopulmonary dysplasiaBronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a long-term (chronic) lung condition that affects newborn babies who were either put on a breathing machine (vent...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney disease involving the kidney tissue Renal artery stenosis (narrowing of the major blood vessel of the kidney) In newborn babies, high blood pressure is often caused by a blood clot in a kidney blood vessel, a complication of having an umbilical artery catheter.Umbilical artery catheterThe placenta is the link between mother and baby during pregnancy. Two arteries and one vein in the umbilical cord carry blood back and forth. If t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Previous imagePlay SlideshowStop SlideshowNext image / Other causes of high blood pressure in infants may include:Certain medicines Exposure to illegal drugs such as cocaine Certain tumors Inherited conditions (problems that run in families) Thyroid problems Blood pressure rises as the baby grows. The average blood pressure in a newborn is 64/41. The average blood pressure in a child 1 month through 2 years old is 95/58. It is normal for these numbers to vary. Symptoms Most babies with high blood pressure will not have symptoms. Instead, symptoms may be related to the condition causing the high blood pressure. These symptoms may include:Bluish skin Bluish skinA bluish color to the skin or mucous membrane is usually due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. The medical term is cyanosis.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Failure to grow and gain weight Frequent urinary tract infections Pale skin (pallor) Rapid breathingSymptoms that may appear if the baby has very high blood pressure include:Irritability Seizures Trouble breathing Vomiting Exams and Tests In most cases, the only sign of high blood pressure is the blood pressure measurement itself.Signs of very high blood pressure include:Heart failure Heart failureHeart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney failure Kidney failureAcute kidney failure is the rapid (less than 2 days) loss of your kidneys' ability to remove waste and help balance fluids and electrolytes in your b...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Rapid pulse Blood pressure in infants is measured with an automatic device.If coarctation of the aorta is the cause, there may be decreased pulses or blood pressure in the legs. A click may be heard if a bicuspid aortic valve occurs with the coarctation.Coarctation of the aortaThe aorta is a larger artery that carries blood from the heart to the vessels that supply the rest of the body with blood. If part of the aorta is n...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bicuspid aortic valveA bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is an aortic valve that only has two leaflets, instead of three. The aortic valve regulates blood flow from the heart i...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Previous imagePlay SlideshowStop SlideshowNext image / Other tests in infants with high blood pressure will try to find the cause of the problem. Such tests may include:Laboratory tests, including blood and urine tests X-rays of the chest or abdomen Ultrasounds, including an ultrasound of the working heart (echocardiogram) and of the kidneys MRI of the blood vessels A special type of x-ray that uses a dye to look at blood vessels (angiography) Treatment The treatment depends on the cause of high blood pressure in the infant. Treatment can include:Dialysis to treat kidney failure DialysisDialysis treats end-stage kidney failure. It removes waste from your blood when your kidneys can no longer do their job. There are different types o...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Medicines to lower blood pressure or help the heart pump better Surgery (including transplantation surgery or repair of the coarctation) Outlook (Prognosis) How well the baby does depends on the cause of high blood pressure and other factors such as:Other health problems in the baby Whether damage (such as kidney damage) has occurred as a result of the high blood pressure Possible Complications Untreated, high blood pressure may lead to:Heart or kidney failure Organ damage Seizures When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if your baby:Fails to grow and gain weight Has bluish skin Has frequent urinary tract infections Seems irritable Tires easily Take your baby to the emergency department if your baby:Has seizures Is not responding Is vomiting constantly Prevention Some causes of high blood pressure run in families. Talk to your provider before you get pregnant if either parent has a family history of:Congenital heart disease High blood pressure Kidney disease Also talk to your provider before becoming pregnant if you take medicine for a health problem. Exposure to certain drugs in the womb may increase your baby's risk for developing problems that can lead to high blood pressure. Open ReferencesReferencesFlynn JT. Neonatal hypertension. In: Gleason CA, Juul SE, eds. Avery's Diseases of the Newborn. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 93.Macumber IR, Flynn JT. Systemic hypertension. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 472.Sinha MD, Reid C. Systemic hypertension. In: Wernovsky G, Anderson RH, Kumar K, et al, eds. Anderson's Pediatric Cardiology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 60.AllVideoImagesTogUmbilical catheter - illustration An umbilical catheter is a long, soft plastic tube (usually made of silicone) that is placed in the umbilical cord either through the umbilical artery or umbilical vein to allow IV fluids and medications to be given over an extended period of time.Umbilical catheterillustrationCoarctation of the aorta - illustration Coarctation of the aorta is a birth defect in which the aorta, the major artery from the heart, is narrowed. The narrowing results in high blood pressure before the point of coarctation and low blood pressure beyond the point of coarctation. Most commonly, coarctation is located so that there is high blood pressure in the upper body and arms and low blood pressure in the lower body and legs. Symptoms can include localized hypertension, cold feet or legs, decreased exercise performance, and heart failure.Coarctation of the aortaillustrationUmbilical catheter - illustration An umbilical catheter is a long, soft plastic tube (usually made of silicone) that is placed in the umbilical cord either through the umbilical artery or umbilical vein to allow IV fluids and medications to be given over an extended period of time.Umbilical catheterillustrationCoarctation of the aorta - illustration Coarctation of the aorta is a birth defect in which the aorta, the major artery from the heart, is narrowed. The narrowing results in high blood pressure before the point of coarctation and low blood pressure beyond the point of coarctation. Most commonly, coarctation is located so that there is high blood pressure in the upper body and arms and low blood pressure in the lower body and legs. Symptoms can include localized hypertension, cold feet or legs, decreased exercise performance, and heart failure.Coarctation of the aortaillustrationA Closer Look Diabetes - type 2 - InDepth(In-Depth)Diabetes(Alt. Medicine)Coronary artery disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Heart failure - InDepth(In-Depth)Anemia - InDepth(In-Depth)Sickle cell disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Vitamin D(Alt. Medicine)Peripheral artery disease and intermittent claudication - InDepth(In-Depth)Systemic lupus erythematosus - InDepth(In-Depth)Potassium(Alt. Medicine)Self Care Heart failure in children - home care Tests for High blood pressure in infants VenipunctureHepatitis virus panelAntinuclear antibody panelComplement component 3 (C3)Complement component 4Heart PET scan24-hour urine proteinLiver biopsyCystometric studyPulseRelated Information Review Date: 6/7/2022 Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. 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High blood pressure in infantsHypertension - infantsHigh blood pressure (hypertension) is an increase in the force of blood against the arteries in the body. This article focuses on high blood pressure in infants. Causes Blood pressure measures how hard the heart is working, and how healthy the arteries are. There are two numbers in each blood pressure measurement:The first (top) number is the systolic blood pressure, which measures the force of blood released when the heart beats. The second (bottom) number is the diastolic pressure, which measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest. Blood pressure measurements are written this way: 120/80. One or both of these numbers can be too high.Several factors affect blood pressure, including:Hormones The health of the heart and blood vessels The health of the kidneys High blood pressure in infants may be due to kidney or heart disease that is present at birth (congenital). Common examples include:Coarctation of the aorta (narrowing of the large blood vessel of the heart called the aorta) Coarctation of the aortaThe aorta is a larger artery that carries blood from the heart to the vessels that supply the rest of the body with blood. If part of the aorta is n...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Patent ductus arteriosus (blood vessel between the aorta and pulmonary artery that should close after birth, but remains open) Patent ductus arteriosusPatent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a condition in which the ductus arteriosus does not close. The word "patent" means open. The ductus arteriosus is ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (lung condition that affects newborn babies who were either put on a breathing machine after birth or were born very early) Bronchopulmonary dysplasiaBronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a long-term (chronic) lung condition that affects newborn babies who were either put on a breathing machine (vent...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney disease involving the kidney tissue Renal artery stenosis (narrowing of the major blood vessel of the kidney) In newborn babies, high blood pressure is often caused by a blood clot in a kidney blood vessel, a complication of having an umbilical artery catheter.Umbilical artery catheterThe placenta is the link between mother and baby during pregnancy. Two arteries and one vein in the umbilical cord carry blood back and forth. If t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Previous imagePlay SlideshowStop SlideshowNext image / Other causes of high blood pressure in infants may include:Certain medicines Exposure to illegal drugs such as cocaine Certain tumors Inherited conditions (problems that run in families) Thyroid problems Blood pressure rises as the baby grows. The average blood pressure in a newborn is 64/41. The average blood pressure in a child 1 month through 2 years old is 95/58. It is normal for these numbers to vary. Symptoms Most babies with high blood pressure will not have symptoms. Instead, symptoms may be related to the condition causing the high blood pressure. These symptoms may include:Bluish skin Bluish skinA bluish color to the skin or mucous membrane is usually due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. The medical term is cyanosis.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Failure to grow and gain weight Frequent urinary tract infections Pale skin (pallor) Rapid breathingSymptoms that may appear if the baby has very high blood pressure include:Irritability Seizures Trouble breathing Vomiting Exams and Tests In most cases, the only sign of high blood pressure is the blood pressure measurement itself.Signs of very high blood pressure include:Heart failure Heart failureHeart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney failure Kidney failureAcute kidney failure is the rapid (less than 2 days) loss of your kidneys' ability to remove waste and help balance fluids and electrolytes in your b...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Rapid pulse Blood pressure in infants is measured with an automatic device.If coarctation of the aorta is the cause, there may be decreased pulses or blood pressure in the legs. A click may be heard if a bicuspid aortic valve occurs with the coarctation.Coarctation of the aortaThe aorta is a larger artery that carries blood from the heart to the vessels that supply the rest of the body with blood. If part of the aorta is n...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bicuspid aortic valveA bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is an aortic valve that only has two leaflets, instead of three. The aortic valve regulates blood flow from the heart i...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Previous imagePlay SlideshowStop SlideshowNext image / Other tests in infants with high blood pressure will try to find the cause of the problem. Such tests may include:Laboratory tests, including blood and urine tests X-rays of the chest or abdomen Ultrasounds, including an ultrasound of the working heart (echocardiogram) and of the kidneys MRI of the blood vessels A special type of x-ray that uses a dye to look at blood vessels (angiography) Treatment The treatment depends on the cause of high blood pressure in the infant. Treatment can include:Dialysis to treat kidney failure DialysisDialysis treats end-stage kidney failure. It removes waste from your blood when your kidneys can no longer do their job. There are different types o...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Medicines to lower blood pressure or help the heart pump better Surgery (including transplantation surgery or repair of the coarctation) Outlook (Prognosis) How well the baby does depends on the cause of high blood pressure and other factors such as:Other health problems in the baby Whether damage (such as kidney damage) has occurred as a result of the high blood pressure Possible Complications Untreated, high blood pressure may lead to:Heart or kidney failure Organ damage Seizures When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if your baby:Fails to grow and gain weight Has bluish skin Has frequent urinary tract infections Seems irritable Tires easily Take your baby to the emergency department if your baby:Has seizures Is not responding Is vomiting constantly Prevention Some causes of high blood pressure run in families. Talk to your provider before you get pregnant if either parent has a family history of:Congenital heart disease High blood pressure Kidney disease Also talk to your provider before becoming pregnant if you take medicine for a health problem. Exposure to certain drugs in the womb may increase your baby's risk for developing problems that can lead to high blood pressure. Open ReferencesReferencesFlynn JT. Neonatal hypertension. In: Gleason CA, Juul SE, eds. Avery's Diseases of the Newborn. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 93.Macumber IR, Flynn JT. Systemic hypertension. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 472.Sinha MD, Reid C. Systemic hypertension. In: Wernovsky G, Anderson RH, Kumar K, et al, eds. Anderson's Pediatric Cardiology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 60.