Paediatric hypertension - evaluation and management

The aetiology of HT varies depending upon the age of the child, with renal parenchymal pathology being the predominant pathology in young children while obesity is the main cause in older children. The baseline investigations in all children include electrolytes, creatinine, urine dipstick and an ultrasound scan of the renal tract. Therapeutic lifestyle measures would be the initial treatment of choice for all patients with stage I hypertension. Pharmacotherapy is indicated if these measures fail or if there is stage II HT or evidence of target organ damage.