Signs, Symptoms & Clinical Features
Apnea and bradycardia (in infants)
Apnea and bradycardia are pauses in breathing and a slowed heart rate that, in infants, can be serious signs of raised intracranial pressure.
In short: Apnea and bradycardia (in infants)
- Apnea is a pause in breathing; bradycardia is a slowed heart rate.
- In infants, they can be serious signs of raised intracranial pressure.
- They warrant urgent evaluation.
- They are among the more concerning signs in babies.
What it is
Apnea is a pause or stop in breathing, and bradycardia is an abnormally slow heart rate. In infants, these can be serious signs of raised intracranial pressure, including from hydrocephalus or a shunt malfunction.
Understanding Apnea and bradycardia (in infants)
When intracranial pressure rises significantly in a baby, it can affect the brainstem centers that control breathing and heart rate, producing apnea (breathing pauses) and bradycardia (slow heart rate). These are among the more concerning signs because they indicate that pressure may be affecting vital functions, and they warrant urgent evaluation. In a baby with a shunt, new apnea or bradycardia can be a sign of a shunt malfunction with raised pressure. Because apnea and bradycardia can have other causes in infants as well, they are evaluated promptly and in the context of the whole clinical picture.
Why it matters
Understanding apnea and bradycardia as potential signs helps families recognize that breathing pauses and a slowed heart rate in a baby can indicate serious raised pressure and require urgent evaluation, especially in an infant with a shunt.
Common questions
What are apnea and bradycardia?
Pauses in breathing and a slowed heart rate.
Why are they concerning in infants?
They can indicate raised pressure affecting vital functions.
What should be done?
Urgent evaluation.
Bottom line
Apnea and bradycardia in infants can be serious signs of raised intracranial pressure and require urgent evaluation.
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