What does sinus tachycardia in children mean?

Sinus tachycardia in children is a relatively common type of arrhythmia, defined as a sinus rhythm with a heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute. The detailed analysis is as follows:

Sinus tachycardia in children is the same type as that in adults, and about 90% of people will experience an episode of sinus tachycardia at some point. Under normal conditions, the heart beats in a regular and rhythmic pattern. However, sinus tachycardia refers to an arrhythmia caused by a sudden increase in the firing rate of the sinoatrial node. This phenomenon may result from physiological factors, such as fear, intense physical activity, or extreme emotional excitement. It may also be triggered by pathological conditions, including fever, anemia, hypoxia, or pain.

If a child develops sinus tachycardia accompanied by symptoms such as difficulty breathing or chest pain that do not resolve spontaneously, immediate medical evaluation at a local hospital—including echocardiography and imaging studies—is necessary.