Causes of palpitations in children

Life-threatening cardiac conditions

Arrhythmia (eg, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, prolonged QT syndrome, cardiac structural abnormalities [congenital heart disease, intracardiac tumors])
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Myocarditis
Sick sinus syndrome
Pacemaker malfunction

Life-threatening noncardiac conditions

Common conditions

Premature atrial contractions
Premature ventricular contractions
Fever
Anemia
Exercise
Emotional arousal
Anxiety, panic attack
Hyperventilation syndrome
Drug-induced (caffeine, herbal medications, dietary supplements, albuterol, isotretinoin)
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome

Other conditions

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