Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a very rapid heartbeat that usually is not life threatening. Some kids feel a fluttering in the chest or skipped heartbeats, but others have no symptoms.

SVT is a common abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) in infants and children. It is a sudden burst of fast heartbeats that can be as fast as 220–280 beats per minute (bpm) in infants and 180–240 bpm in children and teens.

It can last anywhere from a few seconds to several days. Although most kids with SVT have structurally normal hearts, those with heart disease are at increased risk for SVT. Some causes of SVT can run in families.

Sometimes medication or other treatments are recommended for SVT if it returns often or lasts a while. Kids under age 1 are likely to outgrow SVT. When babies younger than 1 year old are started on a medication, it often can be stopped by their health care provider after 6–12 months. Some older kids can learn how to stop SVT when they feel their heart beating rapidly.

An electrocardiogram (EKG) helped health care providers determine what was causing the abnormal electrical activity in your child's heart. Your health care provider was able to stop the abnormal rhythm with special maneuvers or medications. Your child now has a normal heart rhythm and can be cared for at home.

• Learn how to take your child's pulse and monitor his or her heart rate as instructed. Be familiar with the normal heart rate so you can detect when there is a difference.
• If you haven't been trained in CPR, ask your health care provider how to find a class.
• Give your child medications as directed.

If your child has an episode of SVT and you have been instructed by the health care provider to try to treat it at home:

• For an infant:
  • Place a bag of ice and water on the face of your infant as you were shown for 15–30 seconds to restore a normal heart rhythm.
  • Make sure the bag doesn't block your child's breathing
• For an older child:
  • Have your child try to blow out against a pinched nose for 15–20 seconds.
• If these maneuvers are not successful in lowering the heart rate, you should bring your child to the hospital.
• If your child becomes dizzy, weak, pale, or sleepy at any time while trying to stop SVT, call 911 right away.

• Make any follow-up appointments with the cardiologist or for additional testing as instructed.
• If your child is on medication, let your health care provider know about side effects such as tiredness, weakness, pale color, dizziness, emotional disturbance, nightmares, blurred vision, headache, nausea, or difficulty breathing.

Your child:

• Has skipped heartbeats or chest discomfort.
• Complains of an upset stomach or weakness.

Your infant:

• Seems irritable or fussy.
• Begins breathing rapidly.
• Is feeding poorly.

Your child:

• Has a rapid heartbeat that's not corrected by using the maneuvers above.

If your child stops breathing, call 911 first, then start CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), if you've been trained.