Differential Diagnosis for Irregular Heartbeat in a Three-Year-Old
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Viral Myocarditis or Pericarditis: This is a common cause of irregular heartbeat in children, often resulting from a viral infection that affects the heart muscle or the sac surrounding the heart.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT): A condition where the heart beats too quickly due to abnormal electrical impulses in the upper chambers of the heart. It's a common arrhythmia in children.
- Ventricular Premature Beats: Early electrical impulses originating in the ventricles, causing the heart to beat prematurely. These are common in children and often benign.
- Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) or Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD): Congenital heart defects that can lead to irregular heartbeats due to the abnormal flow of blood between the heart's chambers.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A condition where the heart muscle becomes thickened, which can lead to arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Although less common, it's crucial to diagnose due to its potential severity.
- Long QT Syndrome: A disorder of the heart's electrical activity that can cause sudden, uncontrollable, dangerous arrhythmias. It's essential to identify due to its risk of leading to sudden cardiac death.
- Cardiac Tumors (e.g., Rhabdomyoma): Although rare, cardiac tumors can cause arrhythmias and have significant implications for the child's health.
Rare Diagnoses
- Kawasaki Disease: An illness that affects the blood vessels and can lead to heart problems, including arrhythmias. It's more commonly associated with fever, rash, and other systemic symptoms.
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC): A rare heart condition where the muscle in the right ventricle is replaced by fat and scar tissue, potentially leading to arrhythmias.
- Congenital Heart Block: A rare condition where there's a blockage of the electrical impulses between the heart's upper and lower chambers, often associated with maternal autoimmune diseases like lupus.