children s health issues
High Blood Pressure Emergencies in Children
Treatment of Hypertensive Emergencies in Children
For hypertensive emergencies, admission to an intensive care unit and intravenous drugs to lower blood pressure For hypertensive urgencies, admission to an emergency department or hospital and oral drugs to lower blood pressure (occasionally intravenous drugs are needed) are rapidly admitted to an Types of units or, if an ICU is not available, to an emergency department so that they can be quickly treated and evaluated and monitored closely. There, drugs to lower blood pressure (antihypertensive drugs) can be given by vein (intravenously) as soon as possible. The goal of treatment of hypertensive emergencies is to lower blood pressure enough to eliminate the risk of life-threatening symptoms and to stop further damage to vital organs. For hypertensive emergencies, the preferred intravenous drugs arelabetalolandnicardipine. If the preferred drugs cannot be used or do not work, sodium nitroprusside,hydralazine, andesmololare other intravenous drugs that may be used. Once blood pressure has been lowered, doctors can give children drugs by mouth (orally). Children with ahypertensive urgency(severe hypertension but no symptoms and no organ problems) also are admitted to a hospital or emergency department and are evaluated immediately, but blood pressure does not need to be lowered as quickly as for a hypertensive emergency. These children are typically given drugs by mouth. Occasionally, intravenous drugs are needed. For hypertensive urgencies,clonidine,hydralazine,isradipine, orminoxidilis given by mouth. If possible, children with either disorder should be treated by a doctor or specialist experienced in managing severe high blood pressure in children. 