What is pulmonary hypertension in children?

Pulmonary = Related to the lungs

Hypertension = High blood pressure

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is high blood pressure in the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. These blood vessels are called pulmonary arteries.

Pulmonary hypertension is a rare but serious condition. It causes damage to the heart and lungs, which can get worse over time. This is why it’s important for PH to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.

Pulmonary hypertension is not the same as high blood pressure. Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the vessels from the heart to the lungs, while high blood pressure is blood pressure from the heart to the rest of the body.

Pulmonary hypertension can be caused by an existing condition, such as a heart or lung condition. Possible causes of pulmonary hypertension include:

• heart problems, such as congenital heart disease
• lung conditions, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia
• certain genes passed down through biological family.

Sometimes there is no known cause for pulmonary hypertension. This is called idiopathic pulmonary hypertension.

The main symptoms of pulmonary hypertension in children are breathlessness and tiredness.

Other symptoms may include:

• fainting
• dizziness
• swollen ankles
• difficulty putting on weight.

These are also common symptoms in other childhood conditions, such as asthma.

Pulmonary hypertension is rare. It’s less common in children than in adults. There are around 300 children in the UK living with pulmonary hypertension.

Newborn babies, young children and teenagers can all be affected by PH too.