Pediatria pre prax S1/2007

MESURING BLOOD PRESSURE AND HYPERTENSION IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

The prevalence and rate of diagnosis of hypertension in children and adolescents appear to be increasing. This is due in part to the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity as well as growing awareness of this disease. Most of the cases are detected by primary care pediatricians, who perform basic evaluation and in case if it is necessary to direct patients to specialized clinics or departments. An important task for primary care pediatricians is to convince parents and adolescent patients about the importance of non-pharmacological measures (weight loss, increased physical activity, etc.) not only in cases of apparent hypertension but also in those with prehypertensive values of blood pressure.

Keywords: blood pressure, arterial hypertension, children.