Management of hypertensive emergencies in children

Abstract

Pediatric hypertension is considered a relatively recent disease. Most hypertensive children do not require emergent care and can be managed in an outpatient setting. On the other hand, hypertensive emergencies and urgencies which can be encountered in the outpatient clinics, the inpatient wards or during an emergency visit need prompt recognition and treatment. Efficient management of these children is essential to avoid some of the life-threatening complications associated with hypertension and its treatment. This article will focus on the main pharmacologic agents used in the management of hypertensive emergencies in the pediatric population.