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Original poster

6-year-old with fast heart beat - should I worry?

88 replies

imaginaryfriend · 29/01/2009 20:27

My dd is as fit as a fiddle, eats well, gets lots of exercise. She's had problems with allergies - asthma, eczema and she has a severe allergy to nuts.

Over the last week she's complaining of a fast heart when she lies down and keeps calling me in in the night. Her heart rate is going up to 150+ then it seems to ease off again by itself after about 10 minutes. I thought perhaps she was having a nightmare and waking up with an anxiety attack... ? Can you get them when you're 6?!? However it started tonight when she lay down to sleep and she's finding it difficult to settle.

Any ideas? Is it likely to be anything I should worry about? She seems more tired than usual at the moment, it was the first thing she said to me tonight when I picked her up. She's usually full of beans. She also wanted to go straight home where she would normally want a play in the park on the way.

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Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 29/01/2009 22:05

dp's back now which is a relief so if I have to take her anywhere he can stay with her friend.

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scrooged · 29/01/2009 22:06

Did they say how long it would take them to call you back?

noddyholder · 29/01/2009 22:07

How long do these episodes last?If you can get her to the hospital while having one they can check it there and then.I think you are irght to get it checked asap.It could be a relatively innocent reason Has she been ill recently?

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 29/01/2009 22:08

They said within 2 hours! That was mostly because I said her heart was slower right now. If it goes fast again tonight I'll call 999.

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Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 29/01/2009 22:09

No she hasn't been ill. Actually she has cystitis last week but it wasn't particularly major. She tends to get it quite often and this was a mild episode.

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Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 29/01/2009 22:09

could it be linked to some kind of viral thing?

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JodieO · 29/01/2009 22:10

I wouldn't wait up to 2 hours, I'd go in now. That's just my personal opinion though and I'm not medically qualified in any way. I'm sure she'd been seen pretty quickly in hospital as well. I'm surprised they didn't get a nurse on the phone right away tbh rather than saying they'd call back.

scrooged · 29/01/2009 22:10

Has she still got cystitis or a UTI?

scrooged · 29/01/2009 22:11

does she have a fever?

JodieO · 29/01/2009 22:15

Hoping IF has been called back by nhs direct now

lenny101 · 29/01/2009 22:22

Just checked back in. Sweaty is not good at all. Hope IF's girl is being seen by someone.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 29/01/2009 22:25

No reply from them so far. Just checked dd again. Same as last time.

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Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 29/01/2009 22:26

She hasn't had a fever and the cystitis cleared up within 48 hours, no sign of it for days.

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scrooged · 29/01/2009 22:31

chat to NHS direct and see what they say. She should still see the GP tomorrow. Could she go to school after the GP and be on time for her award?

JodieO · 29/01/2009 22:33

So she is still sweaty? I'd call them back or go in now. Noone here can predict what will happen. It's probably nothing but that's not a definitely.

lenny101 · 29/01/2009 22:34

Hi IF, you asked originally for 'ideas'. I just want to say that a raised heart rate, tiring more than usual, sweating all point towards something being not right. Could be sign of infection, could, I suppose, conceivably be some kind of anxiety but it could also point towards a problem with her heart. What you do next is up to you but I wouldn't risk waiting and wondering what will happen next... school next day or not.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 30/01/2009 12:43

Just to update you. NHS direct phoned back and said that if her heart was a normal rate and there was no sign of fever that I shouldn't take her into A&E. I went to sleep with her and barely slept myself as Kept reaching over and checking her heart was still ok. It was around 90-100 all night. I don't know if the sweatiness was connected or if she was just hot, there's no fever or anything like that. I also wondered if it could in any way be connected to her asthma / allergies.

But she woke up this morning totally full of beans and like nothing was wrong at all and has gone into school. I'm going to try to take her to the GP after school if I can get an appointment although dp thinks I'm making a fuss about nothing and being neurotic.

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noddyholder · 30/01/2009 13:02

I think you should see the gp just so that the 150 bpm is logged and then if any further episodes occur your gp may be able to fast track you for cardiac referral.Good luck x

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 30/01/2009 13:17

I'd feel happier getting it checked out too noddy but dp thinks it might just be excitement / anxiety and if I take her to the GP it will fuel her fears. She really doesn't like the racing heart sensation and is clearly worried about it herself.

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noddyholder · 30/01/2009 13:39

I have it and it is a horrible feeling.Normal excitement anxiety shouldn't cause palitations It is horrible to think there is something wrong with your child but I do think you need her to have an echo and an ecg.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 30/01/2009 13:43

I would really like to as well, to put my mind at rest. I also didn't like the way she looked when I picked her up from school yesterday - pale, dark circles under her eyes and she signalled to me through the classroom window that she was very tired. She's generally very full of beans so this was unusual.

I may take her and not mention it to dp until after the fact.

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rhiane · 30/01/2009 14:25

Is she having palpatations and is her heart rate regular as in no pauses different to others etc? I agree with the others I'd get her checked out, it would be a good idea to bypass your GP and go to A&E for a 2nd opinion, are you 100% sure when she said she had a nightmare and felt she couldn't breath that it wasn't happening for real?
My 5yo does get quite a tachycardia from time to time, but there is always a reason for it such as a high fever etc, her resting hr is usually around 80-90.
best of luck

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 30/01/2009 15:08

No I'm not sure the nightmare wasn't for real. That's partly what worries me.

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scrooged · 30/01/2009 19:07

Anaemia can cause this, along with other conditions so it may be something medical.

Hope she's OK today.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 30/01/2009 21:30

She's been fine today at school the teacher said. There were no emergency GP appointments available tonight. It always bugs me that they won't keep a few slots free for children.

She seems to have a runny nose / slight cough this evening so I'm wondering if the sweating at least was her coming down with something?

I'm going to sleep in bed with her again though to keep a close eye on her.

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