pediatrics
Hypertensive Emergencies in Children
Etiology
Hypertensive emergencies are usually the result of a rapid rise in BP, which may develop in children regardless of whether they have been previously diagnosed with hypertension. Thecauses of acute severe hypertensionvary significantly by age: Infancy: Overview of Congenital Genitourinary Anomalies , renal vascular disease, Childhood: Renal parenchymal disease, renal vascular disease, endocrine disorders, drug- or toxin-induced hypertension Adolescence: Renal parenchymal disease; primary hypertension sometimes with nonadherence to treatment; use of drugs such as stimulants, anabolic steroids or corticosteroids, certain oral contraceptives, or certain illicit drugs (eg,cocaine, amphetamines) 