Abstract
The infant’s pulse rate during the early weeks of life is rapid and unstable in the range of 1110-140 beats per minute. With excitement and infection, the pulse rate may rise to 180 beats per minute. However, once the pulse rate exceeds 200 beats per minute, it takes considerable skill to count the rate. Hubbard1 considers a regular rate of 250 beats per minute diagnostic of a paroxysmal tachycardia in infants and children. Paroxysmal tachycardia is rare in infancy. When it occurs it is often serious and may prove fatal. In fact according to some2 the rapid ectopic rhythms are probably one of the causes of sudden death in children and particularly in infants. The first recorded case of paroxysmal heart activity in a child was described by Buckman3 in 1892 in a five year old boy. Lewis was the first to describe it in an infant, a three month old boy. Since 1892 approximately 200-210 cases have been reported in the literature. The last review of Jeune4 in 1955 discribed 180-190 cases with the addition of seven personal cases. Most recent reports have been from Europe.5’ 6 Goldzier7 in 1955 reported two cases in infants. Seganti8 1956 a case in a 40 day old infant. Boe9 in 1956 reported a case. Hillrich1#{176} in 1955 reported four cases in infant boys. Case Report
Published Version
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