Supraventricular tachycardia complicating pneumonia in a resource-poor setting

Abstract

Pneumonia is a common condition in children, especially among the under-fives and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Cardiac complications, including congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, myocarditis, and myocardial infarction, are a significant burden among patients hospitalized for pneumonia. Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in children requiring therapy. We present a 6-week-old Nigerian female child admitted into our children emergency with clinical features suggestive of pneumonia who subsequently developed SVT confirmed by electrocardiogram without an underlying cardiac defect. The child improved on antibiotics, propranolol, and digoxin and was discharged home for follow-up. SVT is a life-threatening clinical condition. High index of suspicion is required as recognition could be made difficult by its nonspecific symptoms.