Blood Pressure in Children and Its Interpretation

Abstract

The "Report of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Task Force on Blood Pressure Control in Children" (Pediatrics suppl, May 1977) is a serious and long-needed attempt at establishing guidelines for practitioners in monitoring blood pressure levels in children and diagnosing early primary hypertension. Further, and importantly, it includes a consideration of prevention of future hypertensive disease, encouraging greater research and clinical interest in blood pressure in the pediatric age group. Specifically it encourages the physician examining children to include observations of blood pressure as a routine part of a physical examination.