3yo boy's blood pressure - is this normal?

[GoldPlated]

I'll try and keep this short!

Took DS (3.5) to hospital for investigation of heart murmur a few weeks ago. Have today received the copy of the letter sent to GP. It states that DS's BP was "111/56 but he was rather wriggly at the time".

He did not move while the nurse was doing his BP - except to look at me like this when it squeezed him! I just wondered why the consultant seems to be trying to explain the BP reading - is it not normal? And why is the consultant saying he was wriggling when he wasn't?!

[Chil1234]

One-off BP readings are not a good indicator of anything. BP can go up if someone is anxious, agitated or 'wriggling'. However, if it was worryingly abnormal they would have done a second test a few minutes later.

[oddgirl]

Agree totally with chil1234-one off BPs are notoriously iffy as they are so led by so many variables-also BPs done on a machine are a bit rubbish IMHO because they pump up unnecessarily high and squeeze hard which often upsets children and rightly so. I much prefer the doppler method which is FAR more accurate and I am sure they would have done this if there were any real concerns.
HTH

[GeorginaWorsley]

I am a paediatric nurse and yes,it is a little high but don't worry,the slightest movement or an upset child can affect the reading,also maybe the cuff used was slightly too small.
High blood pressure very rare in children.
hth